Primary Source: Marc Lescarbot, Preface to Nova Francia (1612)

European Exploration, Perception of the Other, and the Columbian Exchange

What factors contributed to the European interest in exploration?

Richard Hakluyt encouraged the translation and publication in London of Marc Lescarbot’s Nova Francia since it dealt with the areas around Virginia. Lescarbot’s work suggested the American natives were not capable of conversion to Catholicism but the English believed they could be.

Virginia. . . must be far better by reason it stands more southerly nearer to the sunne, greater encouragement may be given to prosecute that generous and goodly action in planting and peopling that country, to the better propagation of the Gospel of Christ, the salvation of innumerable souls, and general benefit of this land [England] too much pestred with over many people. . .

. Why does Lescarbot say Virginia is better for planting?

It is already Christian and therefore time doesn't need to be spent on salvation.

It is not troubled with too many people.

It is more southern and therefore closer to the sun.

. What will "peopling" the new land of Virginia better allow?

Greater amounts of land to be planted and harvested

The prosecution of the generous and goodly

The spread of Christian gospel and the salvation of souls

. What other reason does England have for colonizing Virginia?

To ease the overpopulation in England

To grow crops to feed the people of England

To people the earth as the Bible commands

Primary Source: Marc Lescarbot, Preface to Nova Francia (1612)

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