Hadley Watson
Dr. Keith Hale
English 1213 Composition II
10 October 2016
European Encounters with the Beothuk Before European interaction, the natives of Newfoundland, the Beothuk, estimated a population of less than one thousand inhabitants (Pastore). John Cabot, sailing under the authority of England, sailed to the east coast of Canada in 1497, which lead to the first recorded foreign interactions with the Beothuk people. The Beothuk initially avoided the Europeans. However, England’s greed for the marine resources found around the cost of Newfoundland, such as seal and salmon, limited the Beothuk’s ability to provide for themselves. By the 17th Century, English settlement became permanent. This not only resulted in the dwindling natives’ …show more content…
They were hunter-gatherers during the winter and fishermen during the warmer seasons. The extensive coastline of the island allowed them to extract seal and fish with spears for a large portion of their diet (Pastore). It is believed that the Vikings raided the island long before the documented exploration of John Cabot of England, who was under the reign of King Henry VII, in 1479. According to Historica Canadiana’s article, “The Vikings in Newfoundland,” Vikings brought back to Europe the Sagas, which were drawings and scribbles of the exploration of the new land. Scholars found direct similarities between the scarce records and Newfoundland’s distinct formation. Based on surrounding raids, the Vikings were cruel during their encounters with natives and forced temporary colonization on the island. It is believed that the Beothuk were obligated to retrieve inland. Later-found remains of Viking artifacts, such as knives and arrowheads, support the theory of Viking and Beothuk interactions around 800 CE. This could be the explanation behind the natives’ later behavior during the European settlement of Newfoundland, as they were hesitant to begin trade with the …show more content…
This was the foundation of the continuous attempts to use the land and the resources for the economic benefit of England. More than the natural resources, the earlier English explorations recorded vague descriptions of the natives and commonly referred to them as ‘savage.’(Higgins). These surveys of Newfoundland were not focused, or even concerned, with trading and interaction with the natives because they were occupied by the hope of improving their economy by fishing alone. Beginning in the early 16th century, European fishing expeditions were commonly, yet seasonally, located near the coast of Newfoundland. This meant that the Beothuk were relatively accustomed to the migratory groups of fishermen, though the natives did not intermingle with the explorers. The Europeans left behind hooks, nets, and common tools, just like the Vikings had in earlier explorations, that the natives found and utilized after the Europeans departed from the island. However, the beginning of year-round settlement in Newfoundland brought long-lasting and drastic change to the lifestyle of the
Dr. Keith Hale
English 1213 Composition II
10 October 2016
European Encounters with the Beothuk Before European interaction, the natives of Newfoundland, the Beothuk, estimated a population of less than one thousand inhabitants (Pastore). John Cabot, sailing under the authority of England, sailed to the east coast of Canada in 1497, which lead to the first recorded foreign interactions with the Beothuk people. The Beothuk initially avoided the Europeans. However, England’s greed for the marine resources found around the cost of Newfoundland, such as seal and salmon, limited the Beothuk’s ability to provide for themselves. By the 17th Century, English settlement became permanent. This not only resulted in the dwindling natives’ …show more content…
They were hunter-gatherers during the winter and fishermen during the warmer seasons. The extensive coastline of the island allowed them to extract seal and fish with spears for a large portion of their diet (Pastore). It is believed that the Vikings raided the island long before the documented exploration of John Cabot of England, who was under the reign of King Henry VII, in 1479. According to Historica Canadiana’s article, “The Vikings in Newfoundland,” Vikings brought back to Europe the Sagas, which were drawings and scribbles of the exploration of the new land. Scholars found direct similarities between the scarce records and Newfoundland’s distinct formation. Based on surrounding raids, the Vikings were cruel during their encounters with natives and forced temporary colonization on the island. It is believed that the Beothuk were obligated to retrieve inland. Later-found remains of Viking artifacts, such as knives and arrowheads, support the theory of Viking and Beothuk interactions around 800 CE. This could be the explanation behind the natives’ later behavior during the European settlement of Newfoundland, as they were hesitant to begin trade with the …show more content…
This was the foundation of the continuous attempts to use the land and the resources for the economic benefit of England. More than the natural resources, the earlier English explorations recorded vague descriptions of the natives and commonly referred to them as ‘savage.’(Higgins). These surveys of Newfoundland were not focused, or even concerned, with trading and interaction with the natives because they were occupied by the hope of improving their economy by fishing alone. Beginning in the early 16th century, European fishing expeditions were commonly, yet seasonally, located near the coast of Newfoundland. This meant that the Beothuk were relatively accustomed to the migratory groups of fishermen, though the natives did not intermingle with the explorers. The Europeans left behind hooks, nets, and common tools, just like the Vikings had in earlier explorations, that the natives found and utilized after the Europeans departed from the island. However, the beginning of year-round settlement in Newfoundland brought long-lasting and drastic change to the lifestyle of the