Alaskan history has been poorly documented but can be roughly traced back to about 14000 BC when the first records of foreigners presence in the vast land were made. Many historians are of the opinion that some natives lived in Alaska long before the coming of these foreigners. The Inuit and some European related inhabitants are believed to be among the oldest tribes. At the moment, those regarded as natives include the Athabaskans, Aleut and some Eskimo subgroups.
The southern regions are occupied by immigrants who initially sought refuge from internal conflicts in British Columbia islands. Due to the vast geographical distances separating these groups, a lot of diversities were prevalent as far as culture was concerned. The greatest enemies to minority groups in the eighteenth century were the growing groups of traders setting up shop in the largely unexploited land.
The greatest causes of extinction in the wild country were the severe epidemics that used to wipe out entire populations. There was lack of any form of civilization and health care until the arrival of Russians in search of wealth. Grigory Shelikhov was a Russian general who dispatched forces to neutralize native hostilities against his people. He founded the foreigners some settlements at Three saints bay and cook inlet.
Most of the invaders were in pursuit of the thriving otter population in the north. They had exhausted hunting grounds in California and the northwest pacific, and the catch from the new lands was far much superior in fur quality. Many voyages never made it to the destination at the onset due to the lack of well charted sea routes . With time however, Russians arrived in droves, chiefly to participate in the otter trade. Administrative capitals were set up at Novo Arkhangelsk and attempts were made at some missionary work.
Russia however came to sell its rights in the colony to the united states of America and holdings of the Russian American company were liquidated. The US army, Navy and Department of treasury all got to control the territory for some spans between 1867 and 1884. The majority of the land remained idle at the initial stages of the purchase. Later on, the western union laid the first telegraph lines in 1865 that had an undersea link with Asia.
The state of Alaska as an economically depressed region changed greatly when gold was discovered in the Yukon territory around 1890. Though the mining fields were in Canada, Alaska was conveniently located along the main routes to the mines. The region also struck gold at the turn of the century and towns such as Nome, Fairbanks and Ruby quickly grew as a result.
With time, colonizing powers realized the need for a railroad and set about connecting far flung destinations with a line. The excavation of copper deposits and transportation of ore and other products from the interior was much simplified by the rail transport. The fisheries sector also started developing with commercial ships landing herring and salmon from the rich waters.
There were many offshore voyages made by settlers to hunt whale for their oil since they had been depleted in other waters. They also made explorations into the mainland, hunting polar bear and other wildlife. The majority of internal uprisings in Alaskan history were fueled by indiscriminate hunting since it interfered with local ways of life.
The southern regions are occupied by immigrants who initially sought refuge from internal conflicts in British Columbia islands. Due to the vast geographical distances separating these groups, a lot of diversities were prevalent as far as culture was concerned. The greatest enemies to minority groups in the eighteenth century were the growing groups of traders setting up shop in the largely unexploited land.
The greatest causes of extinction in the wild country were the severe epidemics that used to wipe out entire populations. There was lack of any form of civilization and health care until the arrival of Russians in search of wealth. Grigory Shelikhov was a Russian general who dispatched forces to neutralize native hostilities against his people. He founded the foreigners some settlements at Three saints bay and cook inlet.
Most of the invaders were in pursuit of the thriving otter population in the north. They had exhausted hunting grounds in California and the northwest pacific, and the catch from the new lands was far much superior in fur quality. Many voyages never made it to the destination at the onset due to the lack of well charted sea routes . With time however, Russians arrived in droves, chiefly to participate in the otter trade. Administrative capitals were set up at Novo Arkhangelsk and attempts were made at some missionary work.
Russia however came to sell its rights in the colony to the united states of America and holdings of the Russian American company were liquidated. The US army, Navy and Department of treasury all got to control the territory for some spans between 1867 and 1884. The majority of the land remained idle at the initial stages of the purchase. Later on, the western union laid the first telegraph lines in 1865 that had an undersea link with Asia.
The state of Alaska as an economically depressed region changed greatly when gold was discovered in the Yukon territory around 1890. Though the mining fields were in Canada, Alaska was conveniently located along the main routes to the mines. The region also struck gold at the turn of the century and towns such as Nome, Fairbanks and Ruby quickly grew as a result.
With time, colonizing powers realized the need for a railroad and set about connecting far flung destinations with a line. The excavation of copper deposits and transportation of ore and other products from the interior was much simplified by the rail transport. The fisheries sector also started developing with commercial ships landing herring and salmon from the rich waters.
There were many offshore voyages made by settlers to hunt whale for their oil since they had been depleted in other waters. They also made explorations into the mainland, hunting polar bear and other wildlife. The majority of internal uprisings in Alaskan history were fueled by indiscriminate hunting since it interfered with local ways of life.
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