Fur trade

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fur-trade

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ecological impact?Led to severe depletion of beaver populations and disruption of wetland ecosystems
2. What is the cultural exchange and conflict?Fostered complex interactions, including cooperation, intermarriage, and devastating disease transmission
3. What was the fur trade and why were animal furs so valuable?The fur trade turned animal pelts into a main global commodity, especially beaver fur, which was prized in Europe for making waterproof felt hats.
4. Why did Europeans hunt so many beavers in North America?Beaver fur had a dense underfur that made durable, waterproof felt, so it was highly sought after for hat-making in Europe.

Mercantilism: An economic theory promoting trade to increase a nation's wealth and power, often through colonies.
Geopolitics: The study of the influence of geography on international relations and politics.
Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.