Friday, September 27, 2013

Sept. 30-Oct. 4: New France's demography and territory (2)

Read this for a quick overview of NF: "Canada in the Making"

This week:
- we will finish examining the demography of New France, 1608-1663 and 1663-1760;
- learn about the territorial organization of the occupied territory in New France (land division: seigneurial system)
- understand how French territory in North America changed throughout the French regime.

Learning tasks:
- handout to complete:
(1) analysis of 3 documents, six questions about population in New France, a map of the inhabited territory in NF
(2) complete two maps comparing French territory before 1663 and after 1713 (- posted map below; use p. 27 in your textbook... click on this link to see maps of NF).
(3) small assignment: causal connections, re. NF (in class)

Quiz: Thursday (repeaters)/Friday(blue)/Monday(red/orange)

Here's the map that you can use for your first map:

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Sept. 23-26: Aboriginal spirituality and First contact with Europeans

It's a short week students; assignments are due!

Complex task: Aboriginal spirituality
All classes have a short assignment that is due this week. You have to write about 150 words answering the question (Part F) from last week's assignment about how aboriginal belief in animism affected their culture. Starting any piece of writing is difficult, thus, I've provided for you a starting point; you may use it, alter it, or write something that is entirely your own:

"In aboriginal culture, animism is the belief that all things have a spirit, thus humans need to live in harmony with the natural and spiritual world. This belief had an effect on their culture and on their daily behaviour."

Your task is to illustrate this with clear and specific examples. You can write about aboriginal:
- hunting rituals
- artwork, clothing, etc.
- importance of ceremonies (burial, trade, seasons...)
- relationship with nature
- role/importance of the shaman

In class, we will be:
- discussing the arrival of Europeans in North America, particularly the Gulf and St. Lawrence region;
- begin examining the settlement and population growth of New France over the course of 150 years

work on two handouts
short notes
textbook reading