Vingt ans apres, Habitants et marchands
Lectures de l'histoire des XVIIe et XVIIIe siecles canadiens
📘 About This Book
Habitants et marchands, Twenty Years Later includes eleven essays, seven of which are in French, that highlight current research in Quebec studies. Danielle Gauvreau, Dale Miquelon, and Louis Michel survey recent developments on population, merchants, and rural society respectively. Allan Greer studies Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Amerindian to be beatified. William Wicken analyses relations between Mi'kmaq and Acadians. Bruce White and Thomas Wien examine the fur trade, with White focusing on the Lake Superior region and Wien on the St Lawrence Valley. Catherine Desbarats looks at the role of the state as a buyer of goods and services in Canada. Mario Lalancette and Alan M. Stewart study the evolution of Montreal's urban geography in the seventeenth century. Geneviève Postolec analyses matrimonial practices at Neuville, and Sylvie Dépatie examines the urban and peri-urban countryside in Montreal's gardens and orchards. The collection offers valuable perspectives on both the history of New France and the socio-economic history of colonial societies.
📖 Summary
Vingt ans apres, Habitants et marchands, edited by Sylvie Depatie and published in 1998, is a significant scholarly collection comprising eleven essays that highlight current research in Quebec studies. Serving as a retrospective glance and a testament to ongoing historical inquiry, the volume includes seven essays in French and four in English, capturing a diverse array of perspectives on early Canadian history, society, and economics. Through these collected works, the book engages with the foundational themes of population growth, commercial networks, rural life, and cultural interaction that defined the St. Lawrence Valley and surrounding regions during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Opening surveys set a comprehensive foundation for the volume by examining broad structural developments. Danielle Gauvreau provides an overview of demographic shifts and population trends, offering insights into the growth and movement of early communities. Dale Miquelon surveys the evolving role of merchants, detailing the economic forces and trade networks that shaped the colonial landscape. Complementing these commercial and demographic studies, Louis Michel explores the complexities of rural society, shedding light on the everyday realities, agricultural practices, and social structures experienced by the inhabitants of the countryside. Moving beyond general surveys, individual essays delve into specialized topics involving indigenous histories, cross-cultural relations, and political economy. Allan Greer offers a compelling study of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Amerindian to be beatified, examining the intersection of spirituality, colonialism, and indigenous identity. In a parallel exploration of cross-cultural dynamics, William Wicken analyzes the historical relations between the Mi'kmaq and the Acadians, highlighting how these groups interacted, negotiated, and coexisted in a changing frontier environment. Economic geography and trade systems receive considerable attention from several contributors. Bruce White focuses on the dynamic fur trade within the Lake Superior region, contrasting with Thomas Wien's detailed examination of the fur trade along the St. Lawrence Valley. Together, these essays illuminate the far-reaching economic tentacles of the fur trade and its impact on both European traders and indigenous populations. Furthermore, Catherine Desbarats investigates the administrative and economic role of the state, looking specifically at its function as a major buyer of goods and services in early Canada, which reveals much about the financial mechanisms of colonial governance. The physical and urban evolution of early settlements is also a central theme. Mario Lalancette and Alan M. Stewart collaborate to study the changing urban geography of Montreal during the seventeenth century, charting how the city grew, organized its space, and adapted to strategic and commercial needs. Additionally, Geneviève Postolec contributes further depth to the volume's rural and institutional analyses, rounding out a collection that successfully bridges micro-historical investigations with broader structural narratives of New France and early Quebec. Ultimately, Vingt ans apres, Habitants et marchands stands as an essential resource for scholars and enthusiasts of Canadian history. By bringing together established and emerging researchers to reexamine population dynamics, economic enterprise, religious life, and spatial development, the book offers a multifaceted portrait of a society in formation. Its bilingual format and rigorous academic approach ensure that it remains a valuable touchstone for anyone seeking to understand the intricate social and economic fabric of early Quebec.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Features contributions from numerous respected historians and researchers in Quebec studies.
Offers a diverse bilingual mix of French and English essays.
Covers a broad spectrum of topics ranging from demographics to religious history and urban geography.
Provides deep insights into both micro-historical events and macro-level economic structures.
⚠️ Cons
The academic writing style may be dense for casual readers.
Language barrier for readers who are not bilingual, as essays are split between French and English.
❓ FAQ
Who edited Vingt ans apres, Habitants et marchands? +
The book was edited by Sylvie Depatie and published in 1998.
How many essays are included in the book? +
The volume includes eleven essays in total.
Are the essays written in both French and English? +
Yes, seven of the essays are in French and four are in English.
What major historical topics are covered in the collection? +
Topics include population demographics, merchant networks, rural society, the fur trade, urban geography, and indigenous history.
How many pages does the book contain? +
The book spans 310 pages.
