Unlike that of the British Empire, France's American territory stretched far inland, away from the coastal regions directly connected to Europe. From the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, French colonists built forts to protect their interests in the wild interior of America. They varied greatly in style and function, from cabins surrounded by a simple wooden stockade, to imposing Vauban-type fortresses that were capable of resisting a prolonged siege against a European enemy. As well as their history and construction, this title also examines the strategic vision behind the forts of New France, including how they were used to protect and extend the fur trade, shelter Jesuit missionaries, and dominate vital water routes. Book jacket.