Volume 11:1—Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange in Illinois History

The term globalization is often used today to describe the seemingly inexorable trend toward a single human culture. This is frequently a painful process in which technologically less-developed cultures are either absorbed into the dominant culture or extinguished. Inevitably, humanity loses some richness of diversity.

This volume of Illinois History Teacher draws upon history and anthropology to consider an earlier step in the long-term process of globalization. "Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange in Illinois History" examines French colonial exploration in the Illinois Country, encounters with the Illinois tribes, and the exchange of French and Native American goods and ideas. Perhaps careful consideration of this encounter will underscore some of the challenges humanity faces as cultures around the world struggle to survive; the past is present in this context.

The first essay, "Exploring Seventeenth-Century Illinois," underscores the value of exploring the past, especially the time of the first European-Native American encounters, with a variety of tools provided by anthropology and archaeology, folklore, and natural history, each of which adds a perspective often not otherwise available. With these tools we examine the climate, landscape, peoples of seventeenth-century Illinois, and French exploration. At the end of this brief journey, we discover that this was a period of profound challenges to indigenous peoples.

The second essay, "Illinois as a French Colony," takes a deeper look at French colonial life in the Illinois Country during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The communities of Kaskaskia, Chartres, and Cahokia grew from the frontier to become home to a growing population of French habitants and Indians and Africans, some of whom were slaves. Though dominated by French ways, these communities may be seen as simmering melting pots that transformed peoples and cultures. Far from France, French culture adapted to the frontier, while Indians and Africans were exposed to new materials and ways of doing things. Fur traders eventually gave way to farmers and craftsmen, whose attention was drawn to new forms of commerce and the need to deliver goods and services to distant markets.

The third essay introduces the Illinois Indians of the Illinois Country, the native residents encountered by the French. French harbingers such as glass beads had evidently arrived sometime before Marquette and Jolliet did. But once the seeds of change had been sown, Illinois Indian cultures were rapidly transformed, with devastating consequences. Through historical accounts and archaeological discoveries, we have gradually acquired a picture of Indian life and the results of their encounters with the French. In the end, only a tiny fraction of Illinois' native people survived to see the nineteenth century.

Though generally marked by adverse consequences, cultural encounters can result in an exchange of goods and ideas and mutually beneficial collaborations. In the fourth essay, we explore collaboration in several areas: economics, military actions, religion, technology, and more. The growing dependency of Illinois Indian cultures on the French hastened their demise, but threads from the fabric of Illinois cultures were woven into French everyday life.

As our world grows less diverse, humanity will continue to face daunting challenges to maintain and preserve cultures perched on the brink of extinction. One place to begin this consideration is to explore past encounters and the value of cultural exchange. The past can instruct our behavior today and help to prevent at least some of the mistakes made by earlier colonial powers.

Each essay is complemented by a variety of curriculum materials designed to engage students in their consideration of seventeenth-century Illinois, and, hopefully, the challenges of contemporary cultures.

Sincerely,
Michael Wiant
Guest Editor, Illinois History Teacher

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