Skriptum : Studentische Onlinezeitschrift für Geschichte und Geschichtsdidaktik (May 2014)
Die Menschen der Virginia Company of London und der Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France – zwei frühneuzeitliche Handelskompanien im Vergleich
Abstract
Much has been written about the European overseas expansion to North America during the 17th century. Therefore it is remarkable that there has never been a detailed comparison between the English and French beginnings in this world-changing adventure before. After suffering considerable failures, both nations tried to use modern age chartered trading companies to fulfill their dreams of colonization and trade in the New World. This article tries to answer some significant questions by focussing on the social aspect of the charters of the Virginia Company of London (1606) and the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France (1627). Who founded the companies? Who were the members of those companies? And how could the membership be acquired? Finally the article provides insight into the great question what was ‘typically’ English and ‘typically’ French in the membership of the companies.
