They Came, Saw, & Conquered
The Iroquois
The Irate Iroquois
War-like. Vengeful. Yet there was more than just that. There was much, much, more to their rich culture of life.
Myths and Legends
They believed in supreme beings, and thought the back of the turtle was the Earth.
Story of Twin Gods:
The Iroquois believed in the overpowering of evil, and the importance of the good/evil division.
The Great Spirit:
They believed in an ultimate creator of life.
Flying Heads:
This story showed the vengeful, violent nature of the Iroquois.
Wampum Beads
Technology
-Used raw materials in environment to make tools, containers, etc.
-Traded to get non-local materials (eg. hard stone)
Houses
Floor Plan of what the Insides of a longhouse might look like:
Architectural replica of:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTByPB5Ze-w/TmFnKR5J4KI/AAAAAAAAD14/TVvLanx-Ph0/s1600/IMG_1782_13.jpg
Festivals
-Mainly coincided with agricultural events, and celebrated blessing of land
-Translated Iroquois Prayer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXprfrbb2kc
CLOTHING
Transportation: the Iroquois
A PART OF THEIR CULTURE, A PART OF THEIR LIFE: FOOD
Clans & Family Life
FACTS:
-A clan was a group of related people with a common ancestor; they were named after animals, birds, & fish
-Matrilineal system: traced descent through mother
-Each longhouse contained people in specific clan; most people descended from one woman
-Clan mother, sisters, daughters, adult granddaughters had hearth there for "nuclear family"
-Women were powerful; clan mother = wisest, oldest, matriarch, respected greatly