HISTORY 40A Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Kamchatka Peninsula, George Whitefield, Print Culture
Document Summary
In 1639 russian fur traders operated on the pacific coast and in 1680s. Kamchatka peninsula became the base of fur trading operation in north. They saw sable as the best fur-bearing animal in siberia, and they sold the fur in europe and then in china. The siberian tribes were overwhelmed by well-armed russian fur traders. Russians demanded tribute and they were notoriously cruel to the conquered siberians. It is the greatest environmental range in california. Spanish thought alta california was a wilderness, and california indians had subtly reshaped the environment, that is, weeded and irrigated wild plants. They used to set low-level fire to drive rabbits for hunting, reduce brush and insects etc. The group of indians were diverse with 90 languages (7 language families). Royal inspector in new spain, jose de galvez ordered captain portola to find and occupy the best harbors. Their first military settlement was in san diego bay with 100 soldiers.
