Map of the Government of Quebec, 1709
Document
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look closely at the plots of land on this map. Is the shape of them familiar? Why do you think the sections were long and skinny?
Answer: The land was divided into long, narrow strips, so that everyone had access to the St. Lawrence River.
DO
Look up “Île d’Orléans, Quebec” on Google Maps. Turn on the satellite feature. Compare the modern map with the historical map. List some differences and similarities between the two.
Additional Activity: Use Google Street View to take a “tour” of the area. What do you think has changed since 1709? What has stayed the same?
Details
Date 1709
Materials - Paper
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- The French government gave land in New France to important people, including leaders in military or religious groups.
- These new landowners divided up the land and rented it to farmers. This encouraged people to settle on the land.
- Because access to the St. Lawrence River was important, most of the farms were long and skinny, so that everyone could have a small bit of riverbank.
- From the air, you can still see these narrow farms today.
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by settlers, known as habitants, near Québec City.
At this time, the French government gave land in New France to important people. These seigneurs, or lords, then rented out sections of their land to the habitants to farm.
The long, narrow strips of land ensured that all habitants had access to the water of the St. Lawrence River. If you fly over this area, you can still see the narrow farm plots today.
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by habitants near Québec City.
To encourage settlement, the government rewarded prominent subjects (mostly military officers and leaders of religious communities) with land in New France. These new seigneurs, or lords, rented portions of their land to settlers, called habitants. The fees, paid in cash or in kind, were very modest.
The government also offered habitants incentives to marry and start families. New France, like any European society at the time, was very hierarchical. Seigneurs were part of a privileged elite, and were viewed as superior to the habitants who lived and worked on their land.
The land was divided into long, narrow strips so that everyone had access to the St. Lawrence River. This helped with transportation and communications. While this division is often considered a marker of seigneurial land grants, it was actually a way of adapting to local geography.
Today, if you fly over the St. Lawrence Valley, you can still see these long, narrow strips of land.
- The French government gave land in New France to important people, including leaders in military or religious groups.
- These new landowners divided up the land and rented it to farmers. This encouraged people to settle on the land.
- Because access to the St. Lawrence River was important, most of the farms were long and skinny, so that everyone could have a small bit of riverbank.
- From the air, you can still see these narrow farms today.
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by settlers, known as habitants, near Québec City.
At this time, the French government gave land in New France to important people. These seigneurs, or lords, then rented out sections of their land to the habitants to farm.
The long, narrow strips of land ensured that all habitants had access to the water of the St. Lawrence River. If you fly over this area, you can still see the narrow farm plots today.
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by habitants near Québec City.
To encourage settlement, the government rewarded prominent subjects (mostly military officers and leaders of religious communities) with land in New France. These new seigneurs, or lords, rented portions of their land to settlers, called habitants. The fees, paid in cash or in kind, were very modest.
The government also offered habitants incentives to marry and start families. New France, like any European society at the time, was very hierarchical. Seigneurs were part of a privileged elite, and were viewed as superior to the habitants who lived and worked on their land.
The land was divided into long, narrow strips so that everyone had access to the St. Lawrence River. This helped with transportation and communications. While this division is often considered a marker of seigneurial land grants, it was actually a way of adapting to local geography.
Today, if you fly over the St. Lawrence Valley, you can still see these long, narrow strips of land.
Summary
- The French government gave land in New France to important people, including leaders in military or religious groups.
- These new landowners divided up the land and rented it to farmers. This encouraged people to settle on the land.
- Because access to the St. Lawrence River was important, most of the farms were long and skinny, so that everyone could have a small bit of riverbank.
- From the air, you can still see these narrow farms today.
Essential
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by settlers, known as habitants, near Québec City.
At this time, the French government gave land in New France to important people. These seigneurs, or lords, then rented out sections of their land to the habitants to farm.
The long, narrow strips of land ensured that all habitants had access to the water of the St. Lawrence River. If you fly over this area, you can still see the narrow farm plots today.
In-Depth
This 1709 map shows the different plots of land occupied by habitants near Québec City.
To encourage settlement, the government rewarded prominent subjects (mostly military officers and leaders of religious communities) with land in New France. These new seigneurs, or lords, rented portions of their land to settlers, called habitants. The fees, paid in cash or in kind, were very modest.
The government also offered habitants incentives to marry and start families. New France, like any European society at the time, was very hierarchical. Seigneurs were part of a privileged elite, and were viewed as superior to the habitants who lived and worked on their land.
The land was divided into long, narrow strips so that everyone had access to the St. Lawrence River. This helped with transportation and communications. While this division is often considered a marker of seigneurial land grants, it was actually a way of adapting to local geography.
Today, if you fly over the St. Lawrence Valley, you can still see these long, narrow strips of land.