Agency and archaeology of the French maritime empire

Abstract

"The French maritime empire enabled the continued colonization of territories all over the world from the 17th to the 19th centuries and was built upon the backs of those in lower socioeconomic classes. These classes were heavily impacted by social, political and economic structures. Detailed archaeological case studies using an agency perspective indicate that these lower socioeconomic classes were extremely diverse and dynamic groups that constantly negotiated their identities. These stories are not about the kings, military leaders, and politicians, but rather an exploration of the perspective of those who provided the fuel, both willingly and unwillingly, for the French maritime empire"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Assessing Shipbuilding Variation in Late Seventeenth-Century France: A Case for Shipwright Agency / Marijo Gauthier-Bérubé -- Becoming Jack Tar, Saltwater Slaves, and Hostis Humani Generis: The Vessel as a Center for the Construction of Identity / Annaliese Dempsey -- Archaeology of French Piracy in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries between the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean: Frigates, Prizes and Material Culture / Jean Soulat -- In the Wake of the Saint-Malo Fishermen: Archaeology of the Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Triangular Cod Trade Appendix: Cod-Fishing Routes, 1604 to 1736 / Gaëlle Dieulefet and Brad Loewen -- Pêcher à Miquelon: Transatlantic Trade, Local Networks, and Martiniquan Cuisine / Mallory Champagne and Catherine Losier -- Maritime Archaeology of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (France): From Documentary Sources to Field Practice / Cécile Sauvage, Éric Rieth, and Élise Nectoux.