Chapter 1: Hochelaga 1500 - 1642
1)I am a natural obstacle. For a long time, I forced travellers to stop over in Montréal. What am I?
A.St. Helen’s Island B.Sault-au-Récollet C.The Lachine Rapids D.The Chambly Rapids
Sources: Paul-André Linteau, Brève histoire de Montréal , Boréal, 1992. Commission de toponymie du Québec, www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (page consultée le 20 janvier 2007).
2)They were the first to inhabit the Island of Montréal.
A.The Hurons B.The St. Lawrence Iroquoians C.The Iroquois D.The Iroquoians
Comment: Along with the Hurons and the Iroquois, the St. Lawrence Iroquoians belonged to the large Iroquoian linguistic family. They formed a distinct cultural group around 1,300 A.D. However, archaeologists have discovered traces of Amerindian life on the Island of Montréal dating back as far as 2,500 B.C. The St. Lawrence Iroquoians disappeared for reasons that remain unknown to this day.
Sources: Paul-André Linteau, Brève histoire de Montréal , Boréal, 1992. Centre d’histoire de Montréal, Montréal Clic, no. 47, ville.montreal.qc.ca/chm (page consultée le 27 janvier 2007).
3)Jacques Cartier visited me in 1535. By the time of his second voyage to Canada in 1541, I had disappeared. What am I?
A.Tutonaguy B.Lachine C.Osheaga D.Hochelaga
Comment: Hochelaga was the Iroquoian village Jacques Cartier visited on his first voyage to Canada in 1535. This village enclosed by palisades boasted about 50 longhouses. Despite Jacques Cartier’s descriptions, its precise location and the exact meaning of the toponym “Hochelaga” remain unknown.
Sources: Paul-André Linteau, Brève histoire de Montréal , Boréal, 1992. Centre d’histoire de Montréal, Montréal en question, ville.montreal.qc.ca/chm (page consultée le 20 janvier 2007).
4)Which of the following hypotheses do specialists not consider an explanation for the disappearance of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians?
A.Voluntary displacement B.Diseases brought over by Europeans C.Inter-tribal warfare D.Famine brought on by depleted resources.
Comment: What caused the disappearance of the Iroquoians remains uncertain. However, the most plausible hypotheses are 1) that the Iroquoians voluntarily left the island because the climate became too cold, 2) that diseases brought over by the Europeans decimated their ranks, or 3) that wars with other tribes, particularly the Iroquois, eliminated them as a separate group. The hypothesis of famine brought on by depleted resources was rejected because the St. Lawrence Iroquoians practiced good agricultural management. For instance, they voluntarily moved their village every 20 or 30 years to avoid depleting the soil.
Sources: Paul-André Linteau, Brève histoire de Montréal , Boréal, 1992.
