It was interesting to read in Overseas Migration from Europe how the Spanish colonial society was able to integrate people of mixed ancestry. They were able to adjust to European standards of food, dress, language, etc. Language and laws were developed and practiced by culture opposed to ancestry allowing them to adapt to their environment and live similar lives the Spaniards. It was also intriguing to read how differently the Indians were treated in the New France compared to Spain. The Spaniards need to Indians to complete more laborious work compared to the French who needed the Indians to become proficient in fur trapping.
It was also interesting to read about contemporary ideas that describe factors in migration. The terms used are Push, Pull, and Means. The term push refers to forces existing in the place of origin that encourage people to emigrate, such as the potato famine or earthquakes. Pull refers to attractive forces that draw migrants to another place, such as more religious freedom or more job opportunities for a better economic standing. Means is the ability to migrate, where transportation is affordable and there is absence of effective barriers.
Furthermore, the causes of migration and the large fluctuation in numbers of when people were migrating was fascinating to read about. It was surprising to me that people would migrate and not stay in the same location they would move back to their place of origin permanently, or go back and forth.
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