Colonial ContextsColonial Contexts

Region and NationalityRegion and Nationality

New SpainNew Spain

• Christopher Columbus, who spoke Christopher Columbus, who spoke GenoeseGenoese, sailed at the age of , sailed at the age of 41 (1451?-1506)41 (1451?-1506)

• ColonizationColonization– MayaMaya– IncaInca– AztecAztec

• EncomeindaEncomeinda

• SourcesSources– Imago mundiImago mundi, which was a world geography written in 1410 (Boorstin , which was a world geography written in 1410 (Boorstin

230); 230); Historia rerum ubique gestarum Historia rerum ubique gestarum by Aeneas Sylvius (Pope Pius II, by Aeneas Sylvius (Pope Pius II, or Piccolomini), which collected scraps of enticing information about or Piccolomini), which collected scraps of enticing information about China,” etc. (230)China,” etc. (230)

– Marco Polo’s “reminiscences” and “imaginings” of John Mandeville Marco Polo’s “reminiscences” and “imaginings” of John Mandeville (Boorstin, (Boorstin, Discoverers,Discoverers, 231) 231)

– PtolemyPtolemy– Henry the NavigatorHenry the Navigator– Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, who proposed a shorter way west to the Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli, who proposed a shorter way west to the

Indies. Indies. – IndiansIndians– ColonizationColonization

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

• EncomiendaEncomienda system in New Spain system in New Spain– Essentially the enslavement of indigenous peoples.Essentially the enslavement of indigenous peoples.– MestizoMestizo: mixed ancestry: Spanish, African, and Indian.: mixed ancestry: Spanish, African, and Indian.– Sought to exterminate or displace native peoplesSought to exterminate or displace native peoples

• The Missionary in New FranceThe Missionary in New France– Learned Native LanguagesLearned Native Languages– Fur Trade—change native view of material worldFur Trade—change native view of material world– Allies needed against English and SpanishAllies needed against English and Spanish

New France (Context)New France (Context)

• Missionaries: Jacques CartierMissionaries: Jacques Cartier• Searching for a Northwest Passage to Asia.Searching for a Northwest Passage to Asia.• Fur tradeFur trade• Catholic: Jesuit Missionaries allied with native tribes of the Catholic: Jesuit Missionaries allied with native tribes of the

northeastnortheast• HuronHuron• Iroquois: Five Nations (from West to East doors): Seneca, Iroquois: Five Nations (from West to East doors): Seneca,

Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida (and Tuscarora), and Mohawk.Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida (and Tuscarora), and Mohawk.• Conflict between French and EnglishConflict between French and English

– King Williams War (1689-97)King Williams War (1689-97)– Skirmishes not traditionally fought warfareSkirmishes not traditionally fought warfare

• Colonies included much of Canada down to Illinois, mouth Colonies included much of Canada down to Illinois, mouth of Mississippi and much of its watershed, and West Indies.of Mississippi and much of its watershed, and West Indies.

• Huguenot (French Protestants)Huguenot (French Protestants)

• Samuel de Champlain (1570?-1635)Samuel de Champlain (1570?-1635)– Geographer and CartographerGeographer and Cartographer– Allied with Huron who were enemies of Allied with Huron who were enemies of

the Iroquoisthe Iroquois– DiplomatDiplomat– Founded QuebecFounded Quebec

Samuel de Champlain MapSamuel de Champlain Map

• Delineation from Cape Sable to Cape Cod. Source: Delineation from Cape Sable to Cape Cod. Source: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr009.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr009.html

DiscoveriesDiscoveries

• 1. Garpike1. Garpike

• 2. Arquebus (Harquebus)2. Arquebus (Harquebus)

ChesapeakeChesapeake

• 1580s Roanoke Island1580s Roanoke Island– See Shakespeare’s See Shakespeare’s The TempestThe Tempest

• Jamestown 1607Jamestown 1607– Of 144 original colonists only 38 remained in Of 144 original colonists only 38 remained in

January 1608January 1608– Commercial rather than religious goalsCommercial rather than religious goals– Smith: “He who does not work shall not eat”Smith: “He who does not work shall not eat”

• Issues of ClassIssues of Class– What was the English sense of Class during this period?What was the English sense of Class during this period?– How does class affect the interactions between the How does class affect the interactions between the

colonists and Native American?colonists and Native American?

John White’s WatercolorsJohn White’s Watercolors

• 1. John White watercolor drawing of village of Pomeiooc 1. John White watercolor drawing of village of Pomeiooc • 2. Indian in body paint2. Indian in body paint• (source: http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vcdh/jamestown/images/white_debry_html/jamestown.html(source: http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vcdh/jamestown/images/white_debry_html/jamestown.html

Discussion ExerciseDiscussion Exercise

• Write a brief advertisement for your Write a brief advertisement for your hometown. Your goal is to hometown. Your goal is to encourage settlement there.encourage settlement there.

Form, Style, Artistic Form, Style, Artistic ConventionsConventions• Epistolary chronicle: “A subjective report on Epistolary chronicle: “A subjective report on

the events of exploration and conquest the events of exploration and conquest without the limitations of supposedly objective without the limitations of supposedly objective historical science” (Houghton Mifflin 25).historical science” (Houghton Mifflin 25).

• Medieval chronicle and Renaissance epicMedieval chronicle and Renaissance epic

• Style is direct and unpretentiousStyle is direct and unpretentious– Consider: voice, imagery, comparison, and attitudesConsider: voice, imagery, comparison, and attitudes– How might you describe the “American” voice that How might you describe the “American” voice that

is emerging?is emerging?

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

• What do we mean by the “Colonial What do we mean by the “Colonial Period?”Period?”

• How did contact with Europeans How did contact with Europeans affect Native Culture and more affect Native Culture and more specifically Literatures?specifically Literatures?