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Peopling The Land. An Introduction. From Africa?. Some believe that Humans in the new world have come from Africa. The oldest fossils of Humankind have been found there.
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Peopling The Land An Introduction
From Africa? • Some believe that Humans in the new world have come from Africa. The oldest fossils of Humankind have been found there. Those that do not accept this interpretation of the human fossil record as human origins still have their earliest records referring to civilizations in Africa and the Middle east.
Fossil Records • The fossil record is complex and while there is much disagreement on our direct ancestors, there is an abundance of early human fossils in Africa dated through carbon dating. Hominid fossils are believed to be most recent and are similar to modern humans.
A possible route? • Around the same time that humans first inhabited North America according to dating of remains and artifacts, many believe an ice bridge existed between Siberia and North America. • This ice bridge was called BERINGIA.
Early New World People • Migrating over Beringia, early people in the New World were Hunter-Gatherers • Each hunter-gatherer needed 10 square kilometers to survive.
First NL People • The “Amerindians” , native people of North America, were the first people evidenced to inhabit Labrador. Carbon dating of remains and artifacts places them around 7000 BCE. • Amerindians later developed into the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Canada. • Paleo-Eskimos followed. The Norse (Vikings) and Thule established themselves later. The Thule, dated 800 years ago, became the Inuit.
Surviving in NL Early NL people developed “technologies” to survive. Using resources at hand, these were determined by resources available in areas they inhabited and identified them as distinct groups.
Why did Europeans Come to the New World? • Increasing Populations • Advances in Navigation, Ship Technologies • Increased desire for knowledge and exploration • Need for additional resources to support populations, especially after the rise of the Ottoman Empire cut off trade routes to Asia. • Europeans believed that if they sailed far enough east, they would find trade routes to Asia.
Land Ho! • Christopher Columbus, sailing Spain, discovered the New World in 1492 while seeking a trade route to Asia. • John Cabot, sailing for England, discovered Newfoundland in 1497.
FISH! • John Cabot claimed that there was so much fish in the water that it slowed the progress of his vessel and sailors only needed to drop a bucket. Whether it is true or not, it is what his benefactors wanted to hear. • The French and Portuguese would fish here first, followed by the Spanish and English. • England and France would dominate the fishery by the 1600’s taking, losing, and retaking fishing grounds for over a century.
The Perfect Food • Inexpensive protein source • Easy to preserve, long shelf life • Easy to transport • Great food source for armies, navies, and colonies. • High in demand by Catholics and some Protestant groups • Fishery was a great employer, required the support of many industries, and was a great training ground for navies.
Basque Whalers • Whale oil was used as a fuel and lubricant. It was created by boiling down whale blubber. Baleen and bone were also valuable • The Basque Whalers had a large whaling station in Red Bay, Labrador, in the Early 1500s.
