The Impact of Contact

1
The Impact of Contact

• Relationships of Independence, Interdependence,
  and Dependence

2
Key Definitions

• Independence Freedom from the control of
  another authority
• Interdependence The mutual reliance of groups
  of people on one another
• Dependence Reliance on a group or institution
  for support

3
Impact of Contact

• Aboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

• At first Aboriginal technologies (canoes and food
  preservation) and knowledge (survival skills and
  navigation) greatly influenced economic and
  social interaction with Europeans
• European technologies (guns, kettles, and knives)
  changed the manner in which traditional
  Aboriginal tasks were performed

• Contact led Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle
  of independence to one of interdependence and
  finally one of dependence

4
Impact of Contact

• Aboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

• Contact led Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle
  of independence to one of interdependence and
  finally one of dependence

• First peoples became more dependent on European
  manufactured goods leading to irreparable social
  and economic disruptions to Aboriginal society
• Conflicts increased between First Nations
  societies as each sought to dominate the most fur
  bearing regions and monopolize fur trade

5
Impact of Contact

• Aboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

• First peoples exhausted fur supplies and moved to
  new regions displacing other groups
• Traditional economies and way of life
  (sustainability) were hampered by depletion of
  animal resources

• Contact led Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle
  of independence to one of interdependence and
  finally one of dependence

6
Impact of Contact

• Aboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

• Contact led Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle
  of independence to one of interdependence and
  finally one of dependence

• No immunity to new infectious diseases (smallpox,
  measles, and influenza) was disastrous as
  populations were decimated
• Introduction of alcohol and subsequent
  addictions created has devastating and long-term
  implications for Aboriginal societies

7
Impact of Contact

• Impact on Europeans

• Europe was transformed into a capitalist society
  a global trading network controlled by European
  powers emerged as the new world order

• New foods (corn, potatoes, squash) discovered in
  Americas spread throughout the world
• Aboriginal peoples taught Europeans how to plant
  and harvest these crops

8
Impact of Contact

• Impact on Europeans

• Europe was transformed into a capitalist society
  a global trading network controlled by European
  powers emerged as the new world order

• Potatoes became a staple food in Europe and
  helped to eliminate famine and improve overall
  nutrition
• Corn was used to feed livestock resulting in
  healthier animals and greater supply of protein
  rich foods (milk, eggs, cheese, meat)

9
Impact of Contact

• Impact on Europeans

• Europe was transformed into a capitalist society
  a global trading network controlled by European
  powers emerged as the new world order

• Smoking became a recreational habit in Europe
  resulting in high demand for tobacco
• Demands for tobacco and sugar cane created the
  rich plantation economies to thrive in American
  South and Caribbean

10
Impact of Contact

• Impact on Europeans

• Europe was transformed into a capitalist society
  a global trading network controlled by European
  powers emerged as the new world order

• A global economic revolution turned Europes
  mercantile economy upside down from wealth
  generated from goods from colonies
• Old trade routes to Africa and Asia were
  forgotten because of wealth generated from
  exploitation of colonies