Jacques Cartier

By: Tina M.

 

 

 

Biography

  Jacques Cartier was born on December 31, 1491 in Saint Malo, France. He was comissioned by King Francis I of France

to explore a northwest passage to the Orient in hopes of finding better trade routes. In 1534, Cartier began

his travels west and reached what is now recognized as the coast of Newfoundland.  He reached the Gaspe Peninsula and claimed

all of the land for France in the name of King Francis I.  He made friends with the Huron-Iroquois Indians and named this territory

Canada. On his second voyage, on August 9, 1535, Cartier arrived at a bay near the Gaspe Peninsula  and named it the Bay of St. Lawrence. 

Cartier traveled up the St. Lawrence River until he reached the foot of a mountain which he called Mont Real (Mount Royal). 

This is now the site of the Canadian city of Montreal.  During his years in Canada, his relationship with the Native Americans

deteriorated.  He took many of the Indians that had helped him hostage.  In 1540 Cartier returned to his exploration of the land 

around the St. Lawrence River.  He hoped to find gold and precious metals but he found none.  He returned to France

and lived there until he died in 1557.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Birth- December 31, 1491
• Death- September 1, 1557
• Nation- Sailed for France
• Motives- Better trade routes to the Orient
• Places Explored- Canada, St. Lawrence River
• Legacy- Found Canada

 

 

 

Map of Voyage Routes

 

Work Cited:    http://d-maps.com/carte.php?num_car=4317&lang=en, Nothern Atlantic Ocean, October 9, 2009 

 

  

                                                                                                                  Map Key 

                                                                                                            * Jacques Cartier's firts voyage- 1534

                                                                                           * Jacques Cartier's second voyage-1535

 

 

Time Line 

 

___________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                               1491                                         1534                                               1535                                            1541                                    1557   

 

                                                                                         Cartier was                        Cartier made his                        Cartier made his                     Cartier made his                Cartier died.

                                                                                               born.                                    1st voyage.                                 2nd voyage.                               last voyage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While searching land on Canada, Jacques Cartier met the Native Huron-Iroquois

Indians. He became friends with them. Then his realtionship with the Native Americans

deteriorated.  He brought them back to France with him and kept them as slaves.

He treated them brutally.

 

 

 

 

Summary 

 

  I think Jacques Cartier belongs in the Explorer Hall of Fame because of his findings of parts of Canada.

Although, he did not treat the Huron-Iroquois very kindly. He would kidnapped the Indians and bring them

back to France as slaves. 

 

 

 

  Reflection

 

 Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries with space exploration today are very similar.

Some things that are similar is that they were curious find new land, increase knowledge, build new empires, and to get

expensive equiptment to get them where they need to go. They also take risks. If there are similarities, there must be differences too.Some

differences of exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries and space exploration

is the price, tecnology, and motive trasportation. 

 

 

 

Bibliography 

 

• Waldman, Carl, and Alan Wexler. "Cartier, Jacques." Encyclopedia of Exploration: The Explorers, volume 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

  ItemID=WE53&iPin=EEXI199&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 7, 2009).

 

 

• Roberts, William J. "Cartier, Jacques." France: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present, European Nations. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

  ItemID=WE53&iPin=FRA0339&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 8, 2009).

 

• Speake, Jennifer, and Thomas G. Bergin. "Cartier, Jacques." Encyclopedia of Renaissance and the Reformation, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

             ItemID=WE53&iPin=ERR0350&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 11, 2009)

 

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacques_Cartier.jpg, Jacques Cartier, October 14, 2009 (picture above)