Québec in the time of Champlain

Abstract

When Champlain died in 1635, the trading post he had founded in 1608 was the embryo of a permanent settlement. Vicissitudes in assigning privileges ensured that its development had been slow and halting. The artefacts found in Québec and on the farm at Cap Tourmente show that these settlements were provided mainly with goods from the hinterlands of the French ports in which the merchant companies were based. The houses on the St Lawrence were small and built in timber and cob. The expatriate craftsmen and labourers consumed a standard seaman's diet supplemented by plums supplied from France.

When Champlain died in 1635, the trading post he had founded in 1608 was the embryo of a permanent settlement. Vicissitudes in assigning privileges ensured that its development had been slow and halting. The artefacts found in Québec and on the farm at Cap Tourmente show that these settlements were provided mainly with goods from the hinterlands of the French ports in which the merchant companies were based. The houses on the St Lawrence were small and built in timber and cob. The expatriate craftsmen and labourers consumed a standard seaman's diet supplemented by plums supplied from France.

Quand Champlain mourut en 1635, le comptoir commercial qu'il avait fondé en 1608 constituait l'embryon de l'implantation permanente. Les vicissitudes lui ont assuré un développement lent et hésitant. Les artefacts trouvés à Québec et dans la ferme de Cap Tourmente montre que ces implantations étaient majoritairement approvisionnées avec des marchandises de l'arrière-pays des ports français dans lesquels les compagnies marchandes étaient basées. Les maisons sur le Saint-Laurent étaient de petites dimensions et construites en bois et torchis. Les artisans et les laboureurs expatriés consommaient un régime maritime standard complété par des prunes approvisionnées de France.

Als Champlain 1635 starb, bildete die Handelsstation, die er 1608 gegründet hatte, den Kern der dauerhaften Besiedlung. Die Unbeständigkeit beim Zugeständnis von Privilegien verursachte, daß die Entwicklung nur langsam und schleppend voran ging. Die Artefakte, die man in Quebec und auf der Farm Cap Tourmente fand zeigen, daß diese Siedlungen im wesentlichen mit Gütern aus dem Hinterland der französischen Häfen versorgt wurden, woher auch die Handelsgesellschaften stammten. Die Häuser am St Lawrence-Fluß bestanden aus kleinen Fachwerkbauten. Die eingewanderten Handwerker und Arbeiter aßen gewöhnliche Seemannskost, die durch Pflaumen aus Frankreich aufgebessert wurde.

Alla morte di Champlain nel 1635, l'emporio che aveva fondato nel 1608 era divenuto l'embrione di un insediamento stabile. Le vicissitudini legate all'assegnazione di privilegi garantivano che il suo sviluppo fosse stato lento e incerto. I manufatti rinvenuti in Quebec e nella fattoria di Cap Tourmente mostrano come questi insediamenti fossero principalmente provvisti di generi provenienti dall'entroterra dei porti francesi in cui avevano sede le compagnie mercantili. Le case lungo il San Lorenzo erano piccole e costruite con legno e mattoni crudi. I lavoratori e gli artigiani emigrati avevano una dieta simile a quella dei pescatori, integrata con prugne provenienti dalla Francia.

Cuando Champlain murió en 1635 el pequeño núcleo comercial que había fundado en 1608 fue el embrión de un asentamiento permanente. Diversas vicisitudes a la hora de asignarle privilegios supusieron que su desarrollo fuera lento. Los materiales encontrados en Quebec y en la granja de Cap Tourmente demuestran que estos yacimientos fueron proveídos principalmente con materiales de la zona circundante a los puertos franceses donde las compañías mercantes estaban basadas. Las casas en el St Lawrence eran pequeñas y construidas de madera y tapial. Artesanos y jornaleros expatriados consumían una dieta estándar suplementada con ciruelas llegadas de Francia.