French Language and Culture from 1500 to1900 - Assignment Example

French Language and Culture from 1500 to1900 Spain conquered discovered America towards the end of the fifteenth century and regarded the new land as a region of mystery, wonder and of magnificent promise (Berkin 2015, pp. 13). Spanish crews roamed over the sea and land, hiked unknown mountains, surveyed both land and oceans and from day to day, year to year they explored and found new areas with gold deposits. Some factors attracted new entries into the new land, one of them being the story among the Indians of Hispaniola and Cuba River existing on the island of Bimini. It was said that if aged men bathed in its waters, they become youths. America was regarded as a land of wonder, romance, gold, and adventure. What cultural, economic, and ideological forces drove early settlers to leave France? The new country unveiled the secrets of barbarous continent, but the Frenchmen pierced the forests, mapped and traced out streams, built their forts, planted their emblems and claimed their own territories (Eacott 2015 pp. 69).The new country offered great opportunities for spiritual welfare. Priests and monks were brought alongside the soldiers to offer spiritual nourishments to the Indians and save their souls. When Henry the Second was on the throne, France desired to get a share of the rich new world of which the Spanish and Portuguese arrogance claimed the monopoly. The desire of France saw her not only send Frenchmen only but also Protestant Frenchmen. The importance of them being Protestants was for the sake of evangelism, as well as disguising their identity for acceptability. The Frenchmen and the Protestant Frenchmen were sent to plant the fleur-de-lis on the New World’s shores. In the name of King, two vessels were prepared for the big journey. The emigration’s body was the Huguenots, mixed with young nobles, poor, idle and restless, with piratical sailors from the Breton and Norman sea ports and reckless artisans. They entered the harbor of Rio Janeiro, which was then named Ganabara and built huts for their accommodation (Miller 592). The anticipation for future triumphs was evident in them. According to Dubois (2004 pp. 36), a black and deadly potent cloud was thickening over France in the year 1562. A problem was brewing and was inclined towards religious wars. It was impossible for anyone to pierce the future, not to mention contemplating it. The wide range of hate and fanaticism, brother fighting brother, friend fighting friend, son with father made the future dark. Spain, on the other hand, watched and waited to crush and trample any hope of humanity. The second Huguenot colony made its way to the New World during those days of fear. The leader of the colony was a calm and stern man whose strategies promised a military colony. The Huguenot party was not only a religious party but also a political one. The religious element that was represented by the martyrs, Geneva and the devoted fugitives who among the caverns and rocks sang the psalms of Marot lay at its foundation. Among the crew were those whose faiths at slightly and who had hope in change and commotion. The Huguenot nobles from Conde were also a section of the crew and their aspiration was to the crown. The thought that the New Country was rich in silver, gold, pearls and turquoises excited them. Their excitement was enhanced when they saw a precious mineral hanging from the neck of an Indian, who was standing in the vicinity of their boats while they were re-embarking (Wheat 2015, pp. 26). From the signs of the Native Americans, they gathered too that the land of Cibola with its untold riches and seven cities was wonderful and reaching it would require twenty days of travel by water. The objective of the voyage was preliminary exploration and not an immediate settlement. In the eyes of the voyagers, all was still rose-color and most of them lingered in the new land. Ribaut appealed for patriotism and courage from his men. Having built Port Royal, Ribaut requested one of his men to stay behind and become the king of the port. This indicates that conquering and setting up of new territories were among the driving factors for the journey to the New Land (Michel de Montaigne). Another Huguenot was dispatched to the New World under the leadership of Rene deLaudonniere on the twenty-fifth of June 1564. This time round the situation in France was peaceful, and the carnival of hate and bigotry had found a pause. This dispatch was all Huguenots and soldiers we repaid from the royal treasury, artisans and tradesmen were a hired lot and a swarm of volunteers originating from the young Huguenot nobles. Adventurous gentlemen, discontented tradesmen, reckless soldiers were all keen on novelty and bounded by the desires of wealth. They were the ones to build for their religion, and country an empire beyond the sea (Parkman 2013, pp. 38). The main driving factor for the Huguenot crew that left under the command of Ribault was the fear that was crippling the country making the future uncertain (Miller 2008, pp. 93). But there was a huge change in the country when the Huguenots under the command of Laudonniere left. The country was now safe with a prosperous future, but the need for creating more wealth and building empires for their country and religions drove the Huguenots further into the New World. What were settlers’ perceptions of the indigenous peoples they encountered? Ribaut’s crew first met the Indians who sat gravely under trees and looked on in respect and silence (Eacott 2015 pp. 78). As the Frenchmen knelt down to thank their God for guiding their voyage, the Indians were amused and thought they were worshipping the sun. The Indians were very pleased with the Frenchmen. The relationship between the Indians and the Frenchmen was good, and Ribaut gave the leader of the Indians a robe of blue cloth that was worked in yellow and had regalfleur-de-lis. The Indians being the indigenous people of the New World were very friendly and welcoming, and this made the Huguenots perceive them as friends. Their relationship with the Indians had grown, and the Indians had lost the fear of the Frenchmen. Ribault used all gentleness and kindness in their interactions, and the Indians obeyed him even more. Ribault with his crew roamed the forests, swamps, and river and visited villages of five petty chiefs. During their visits, they feasted everywhere on beans, game and hominy and were loaded with gifts when leaving. An again, upon arriving at the New World, Laudenniere’s crew were accorded a very warm reception by the Indians. An Indian chief took Laudonniere by hand and showed him the work of his predecessor (Berkin 1996, pp. 122). How did French settlers’ interaction with other European settlers influence the development of colonies in the New World? A new-born Protestantism was assimilated by Villeganon, who was the leader of the Frenchmen. Jean deLery, 1534-1611(2014 pp. 41) observed that the assimilation was aimed at influencing their morals and manners to his followers. The discordant and wild crew for a season starved and flogged into submission but planned on how to rid them of him. As they debated whether to blow him up, poison him or murder him together with his officers in their sleep, the plot was revealed by three Scottish soldiers who were probably Calvinist. This was an indication of the diversity of the cultural backgrounds of the crew that was sent to the New World. Though they had Protestant Frenchmen in their midst, a section of them was not amused by the decision of their leader. By the Scottish soldiers reporting the plan that the French followers had showed that they cared about the Frenchmen, and they were ready to work closely with them (Lery 65). The question is how could the French colony subsist given that the island where they resided was too small for culture while hostile tribes infested the mainland? The mainland was infested by the Portuguese, who threatened the Frenchmen and viewed the occupancy of the French as a violation of their area (Berkin 50). When a section of the crew under Ribault went back to France, the Frenchmen who remained in the New Country could not match the Portuguese, who had a stronger force. The bad blood between the two nations resulted in a tussle and Ganabara fell prey to the Portuguese before the year 1558 came to an end. As they set up on it in force, the Frenchmen were driven and became miserable refugees among the Indians as the fort was battered down. Portugal and Spain claimed the entire area, the underdeveloped riches of Antarctic France and the mighty vegetation. The interactions between the French settlers and other European settlers mainly Portugal and Spain were not good because they perceived each other as enemies (Klooster 2009, pp. 134). The reason for this was that they all had a common goal of getting a share of the New World which they believed had a lot of wealth. But the case is different with the Scottish soldiers who interacted well with the French men. Cited Works Berkin Carol et al Making America: A History of the United States, Volume II: Since 1865. 2014 576pgs Berkin Carol. 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Pioneers of France in the New World. 2013 Wheat David.Atlantic Africa and the Spanish Caribbean, 1570-1640. Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia 2015. ISBN  978-1-4696-2341-2 Read More