League
of Five Nations
The Iroquois are probably best know for being one of the world's first democracies. A democracy is a government by the people. The Iroquois' League of Five Nations was set up to reduce hostility and create peace among neighboring tribes. In the beginning, five nations made up the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. Another nation, known as the Tuscarora, was added in 1722.
The Iroquois are probably best know for being one of the world's first democracies. A democracy is a government by the people. The Iroquois' League of Five Nations was set up to reduce hostility and create peace among neighboring tribes. In the beginning, five nations made up the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. Another nation, known as the Tuscarora, was added in 1722.
The
Iroquois viewed themselves as one large, extended family. Also, they viewed
the League of Five Nations as a symbolic longhouse. Each nation's name
and function in the Confederacy was related to where it was located. The
Mohawk were Keepers of the Eastern Door and People of the Flint. They
protected the eastern part of the "longhouse" and the rich source
of flint in the earth. Flint is a very hard piece of a quartz rock. The
Oneida were People of the Standing Stone. This was a large rock in their
territory. The Onondaga were People of the Hill and within the Confederacy,
they were known as the Keepers of the Central Fire. This name was appropriate,
because the Onondaga held all the League council meetings around a council
fire that never went out. The Cayuga were known as People at the Mucky
Land, because of the marshland throughout their territory. The Seneca
were Keepers of the Western Door and People of the Great Hill.
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