Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The First Warriors CHAPTER 2 Soldiers of the Sixteenth Century CHAPTER 3 The First Soldiers of New France A Time Of Change From Harquebuses To Muskets The Soldiers Of Trading Companies The First Permanent Colonies Few Soldiers To Fight The Iroquois The Destruction Of Huronia Guerilla Warfare In The Heart Of The French Colony Another Round Of Iroquois Wars The Battle Of Long Sault Insufficient Reinforcements Fragile Colonies CHAPTER 4 The King's Soldiers CHAPTER 5 The Compagnies Franches de la Marine of Canada CHAPTER 6 Soldiers of the Atlantic Seaboard CHAPTER 7 The Military Empire APPENDIX A The Organization of New France APPENDIX B Daily Life in New France APPENDIX C Flags and Uniforms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 3 The First Soldiers of New France           A Time Of Change ( 2 pages )           1 2      A New Prize: Fur                By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the nations of northwestern Europe had accepted the obvious: it was unrealistic to continue hoping that they, like Spain, would discover countries with mountains of gold and rivers of diamonds.  Nevertheless, considerable profit could be made from the exploitation of more conventional natural resources.  First among these was fur.  Aware of the new interest in it, the Iroquois set out resolutely to control the fur trade, thereby coming into conflict with tribes allied with the French.  At the same time, various conflicts arose among the European nations disputing territory in North America.  It was in this difficult climate that small colonies began to emerge in New France in the seventeenth century.           1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices