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Nineteenth century fur trade had such an impact on animals, Native Americans and Europeans, that Eric Jay Dolin was able to write a 313-page book, which details such historical events as Henry Hudson's exploration, mountain men's existence, the Pilgrims' struggle to set up a colony and the wars that ensued due to the new resources (particularly fur) in America.
Fur trade was so essential in European settlers' lives that the 1800s, especially the latter half, became known as the Age of Extermination because so many animals were killed to feed and dress the growing population. In addition, development, such as cities, roads and rail lines further decimated animals' habitats. These drives left animals such as buffalo, birds and beavers near the brink of extinction.
Fortunately, the killing didn't completely wipe species off the planet. People like Ralph Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and John Muir drew attention to the devastation through their writings about the beauty of living in harmony of nature.
But Dolin's book focuses on the importance of fur in the 19th century. While common knowledge espouses how pilgrims came to America for religious freedom, it neglects the other main reason they colonized (and were able to afford to colonize): the riches fur trade brought. Native Americans swapped furs and food for European knives, hooks and sharp metal.
An astonishing example of how much furs were worth comes in Dolin's comparison of King Henry IV's robe vs. the number of labor days it would take to purchase such an extravagance. The king owned a nine-part robe made of approximately 12,000 squirrels and 80 ermine skins. It took an English carpenter 40 days to earn enough to buy just one rabbit lining; the king's robe would have taken about 6,000 times the daily wage of a common man.
In his book, Dolin synthesizes hundreds of books and articles into well-written stories, filled with facts, that bring history to life in a compelling manner. His work is so thoroughly researched that he dedicates nearly 100 pages to end notes.
For anyone interested in pioneers, explorers and the lives of early settlers, “Fur, Fortune and Empire” provides insight from a different perspective — that of the role animals played in human survival.
Fur trade was so essential in European settlers' lives that the 1800s, especially the latter half, became known as the Age of Extermination because so many animals were killed to feed and dress the growing population. In addition, development, such as cities, roads and rail lines further decimated animals' habitats. These drives left animals such as buffalo, birds and beavers near the brink of extinction.
Fortunately, the killing didn't completely wipe species off the planet. People like Ralph Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and John Muir drew attention to the devastation through their writings about the beauty of living in harmony of nature.
But Dolin's book focuses on the importance of fur in the 19th century. While common knowledge espouses how pilgrims came to America for religious freedom, it neglects the other main reason they colonized (and were able to afford to colonize): the riches fur trade brought. Native Americans swapped furs and food for European knives, hooks and sharp metal.
An astonishing example of how much furs were worth comes in Dolin's comparison of King Henry IV's robe vs. the number of labor days it would take to purchase such an extravagance. The king owned a nine-part robe made of approximately 12,000 squirrels and 80 ermine skins. It took an English carpenter 40 days to earn enough to buy just one rabbit lining; the king's robe would have taken about 6,000 times the daily wage of a common man.
In his book, Dolin synthesizes hundreds of books and articles into well-written stories, filled with facts, that bring history to life in a compelling manner. His work is so thoroughly researched that he dedicates nearly 100 pages to end notes.
For anyone interested in pioneers, explorers and the lives of early settlers, “Fur, Fortune and Empire” provides insight from a different perspective — that of the role animals played in human survival.
