The first Europeans to settle North America were naive. Most believed the abundance of gold, silver and precious jewels found in Mexico and Peru also existed in northern territories.
Finding these treasures was priority one! Gentlemen adventurers clamored aboard wooden sailing ships encumbered by their European beliefs, weapons and values. They were sure they would immediately discover fabulous riches in the New World! Instead, most became victims of starvation, disease and violence.
The Europeans carried a limited supply of food. They were promised they would be regularly resupplied by ship. This rarely happened. You would think the settlers would have quickly realized that clearing land and growing enough food to sustain their settlement was the first job. Another priority should have been learning how to hunt and gather the abundant foods in this new land.
Instead, the first English, French and Spanish colonists exploited the local natives. When supplies ran low, the Europeans traded tools and trinkets with Native Americans for the small amounts of surplus food they grew. Soon this food was consumed and the Europeans started demanding and ultimately confiscating (by force) all the food of their Native American neighbors.
Finding these treasures was priority one! Gentlemen adventurers clamored aboard wooden sailing ships encumbered by their European beliefs, weapons and values. They were sure they would immediately discover fabulous riches in the New World! Instead, most became victims of starvation, disease and violence.
The Europeans carried a limited supply of food. They were promised they would be regularly resupplied by ship. This rarely happened. You would think the settlers would have quickly realized that clearing land and growing enough food to sustain their settlement was the first job. Another priority should have been learning how to hunt and gather the abundant foods in this new land.
Instead, the first English, French and Spanish colonists exploited the local natives. When supplies ran low, the Europeans traded tools and trinkets with Native Americans for the small amounts of surplus food they grew. Soon this food was consumed and the Europeans started demanding and ultimately confiscating (by force) all the food of their Native American neighbors.
As the colonists were armed with firearms and metal weapons, they usually won the day but lost the friendship and cooperation of the knowledgeable indigenous people.
Many American Indian peoples practiced slash and burn farming. They cleared a piece of land and burned the brush and trees. Burning released nutrients that fertilized the soil. Next, they planted corn, squash and bean seeds together in many small hillocks. As the plants grew, the corn stalk supported the bean vine while the squash vine covered the ground and discouraged weeds. Many Native Americans also exploited salt and fresh water resources as well as woodlands and plains.
In the early years of European colonization, lobster was so abundant in shallow waters that a ships’ boy could catch 40 or 50 lbs. in an hour or two. A little later in history, New England farmers used lobsters to fertilize their fields. In fact, lobster was so cheap and plentiful that indentured servants often had a clause inserted in their contract so that they would not be forced to lobster more than three times a week! Oysters and clams, scallops, crabs, cod and many other varieties of fresh and salt water fish, whales and eels filled the coastal waters, bays, lakes and rivers of North America. Even the Maple tree produced sap which was boiled into sweet syrup or sugar!
Many American Indian peoples practiced slash and burn farming. They cleared a piece of land and burned the brush and trees. Burning released nutrients that fertilized the soil. Next, they planted corn, squash and bean seeds together in many small hillocks. As the plants grew, the corn stalk supported the bean vine while the squash vine covered the ground and discouraged weeds. Many Native Americans also exploited salt and fresh water resources as well as woodlands and plains.
In the early years of European colonization, lobster was so abundant in shallow waters that a ships’ boy could catch 40 or 50 lbs. in an hour or two. A little later in history, New England farmers used lobsters to fertilize their fields. In fact, lobster was so cheap and plentiful that indentured servants often had a clause inserted in their contract so that they would not be forced to lobster more than three times a week! Oysters and clams, scallops, crabs, cod and many other varieties of fresh and salt water fish, whales and eels filled the coastal waters, bays, lakes and rivers of North America. Even the Maple tree produced sap which was boiled into sweet syrup or sugar!
The St Lawrence river was filled with such an abundance of eels each year that migrated up the river to spawn. In time, this tide of eels was nicknamed he "Manna of New France".
Wild grapes and various berries grew in the northern climes. Hundreds of varieties of potatoes were domesticated in Peru. The tomato was also first cultivated in the Americas. Introduced to Europe, the Italians believed the fruit of the tomato plant was poisonous. Instead, they grew the plant for its’ ornamental beauty.
Among the wild game a hunter could harvest were bear, deer, caribou, woodland bison, buffalo, elk, moose, turkey, assorted water fowl and many other critters that roamed the continent’s various ecosystems.
In Quebec (New France), the variety and abundance of meat, fish and edible plants available in the colony had a physical impact on the people. Several European visitors noted in their journals that native born French-Canadians were noticeably taller and larger than their immigrant parents.
Over time, the colonists tamed the wilderness, cleared and planted the land, harvested the rivers, lakes and seas. Some New World plants and animals (like corn, potatoes and turkey) were introduced to Europe and other Old World areas.
In return, the Spanish introduced orange trees in St Augustine Florida and imported horses and beef cattle and pigs. Some of these animals escaped and populated the South, Southwest and the Great Plains. Feral pigs are a big nuisance today in many U.S. states as their estimated numbers have grown to around 4 million animals!
And the invasion of new exotic species continues to this day with the Zebra Mussel. It traveled across the Atlantic on freighters, through the St Lawrence Seaway, and found a new home in the Great Lakes .
Wild grapes and various berries grew in the northern climes. Hundreds of varieties of potatoes were domesticated in Peru. The tomato was also first cultivated in the Americas. Introduced to Europe, the Italians believed the fruit of the tomato plant was poisonous. Instead, they grew the plant for its’ ornamental beauty.
Among the wild game a hunter could harvest were bear, deer, caribou, woodland bison, buffalo, elk, moose, turkey, assorted water fowl and many other critters that roamed the continent’s various ecosystems.
In Quebec (New France), the variety and abundance of meat, fish and edible plants available in the colony had a physical impact on the people. Several European visitors noted in their journals that native born French-Canadians were noticeably taller and larger than their immigrant parents.
Over time, the colonists tamed the wilderness, cleared and planted the land, harvested the rivers, lakes and seas. Some New World plants and animals (like corn, potatoes and turkey) were introduced to Europe and other Old World areas.
In return, the Spanish introduced orange trees in St Augustine Florida and imported horses and beef cattle and pigs. Some of these animals escaped and populated the South, Southwest and the Great Plains. Feral pigs are a big nuisance today in many U.S. states as their estimated numbers have grown to around 4 million animals!
And the invasion of new exotic species continues to this day with the Zebra Mussel. It traveled across the Atlantic on freighters, through the St Lawrence Seaway, and found a new home in the Great Lakes .
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