Thursday, November 24, 2022

New Contacts

Viking sailors reached the New World a thousand years ago, settling for a brief few years in Newfoundland (and probably further elsewhere in North America) and coming into conflict with Indigenous peoples.


Centuries later other Europeans would make their way to the New World. By this time they had firearms- which changed the way First Nations peoples conducted themselves in war entirely.


The French made alliances with some of the tribes in what would eventually be called New France. This led to the Post Contact Wars.


The musket is reflective of that time. So too is the tomahawk- a new take on an old Indigenous weapon. French metal work replaced the old stone blade with a metal one, making what was already a deadly weapon that much more formidable.


Illustrations and a medal are displayed here dating back to the Post Contact Wars of French soldiers sent to the New World to assist, 


The French had been at odds with the British for centuries in Europe. They brought their old rivalry to the New World.


This exploded into war in what is called the French and Indian War in North America, and the Seven Years War elsewhere in the world. Churchill would describe it as the first truly global war.


The expulsion of the Acadians was part of this period.


This mortar was used in the defenses of Louisbourg, which fell to the British.


The path leads between two projected screens, where re-enactors are seen, both from the French and British sides at the pivotal Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Quebec City.


A topographic model of that place, outside the walls of the old city, is here, with lines designating  military formations. Soldiers and militia under British general James Wolfe would meet their French counterparts under General Montcalm in battle. Both generals would die, and the British would prevail. It would be the end of New France.

44 comments:

  1. Oh, muskets... My Father built two for fun, working ones, my Brother took over.
    I think you would enjoy the Sehusa Musketiere...
    I grew up with that stuff...

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  2. Death by tomahawk sends shivers down my spine.
    How weaponry has changed over the years, very interesting post.

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  3. War museum displays are important. Renacting battles I have yet to see the sense in it.

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  4. Looks like a dynamic display of these information in the museum

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  5. The history of mankind is full of wars and invasions...

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  6. And now some fools start to conquer outside our globe instead of repairing what we have ! In my family my great great great grandfather's brother immigrated to America, at that time I can understand, people had no work and it was crowded. The funniest thing was that my aunt married an American and he found out that they had the same great great grandfather !!











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    1. Proverbial small world, isn't it? Still, far enough apart in relation that it's okay.

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  7. It is a great museum and wonderful exhibits. Take care, enjoy your day!

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  8. ...a period of history that for the most part didn't go well.

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  9. I have long thought that Canada was and is an exemplary peaceful country.

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  10. The Vikings were amazing in their navigational skills.

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  11. Colonialism was a brutal thing, but everyone seems to have been brutal in those days.

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  12. Things never seem to be settled.

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  13. There was lot of fighting among us in our early history.

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  14. Such a busy and bloody history.

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  15. An excellect exhibition and museum with lots to see.

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  16. The Acadian expulsion was a tragedy on this island for sure. Some of them managed to hide however. Their descendants are here today.

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  17. The French and Indians were a formidable alliancel

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  18. Another great historical display and photos ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  19. Wolfe and Montcalm, names that resound in my childhood education

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