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promyshlenniki

Russian traders and trappers

Quick Summary

The term "promyshlennik" refers to Russian trappers and fur traders who operated in Siberia and Alaska. These individuals were instrumental in Russia's expansion into North America, particularly along the northern Pacific coast, starting in the mid-18th century.12

The promyshlenniki were driven by the lucrative fur trade, seeking valuable pelts like those of sea otters for trade with China. Unlike earlier French traders who often partnered with Indigenous peoples, the promyshlenniki established a more exploitative presence, imposing a harsh social order and exercising significant control over Native populations. Their activities led to considerable hardship and suffering for Indigenous communities, including forced labor and the depletion of wildlife populations.2

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