L’Atlantique des émigrants français (XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles): Expériences Humaines de la Traversée.

Abstract

The objective of this article is to illustrate what impact the Atlantic crossing towards French America has on French emigrants during the modern times. Physically and psychologically speaking, this adventure as a whole constitutes a disturbing and arduous experience which shows to the emigrants that colonial life is a much more peaceful ordeal. To explain this idea, all aspects of the human world which exist on a vessel en route for French America are presented, such as the micro-society created by the captain on board, the relationships which appear and the emotions and the reflections which are formed.