Name: ________________________
Blk: ________
Date: ______________________
SS9
HW # 4
Ch. 7 (p.p. 193-197)
The Iroquois of the Eastern Woodlands
A) Geography
The Eastern Woodlands Area is located around the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, in the
provinces of O___________ and Q_________. It was one of the most heavily populated parts of
North America even before the E____________ arrived.
Nations such as the Ottawa, Mohawk, Ojibwa, Huron and Iroquois, all lived in this region, some
since before the 13th Century.
B) Subsistence
The Iroquois were originally h________-g___________ who eventually switched to
a_______________.
The switch to agriculture lead to permanent settlement and a growth in p___________. The
Iroquois built large towns which were surrounded by large fields of ma_____, beans, squash,
and sun____________.
With larger populations, and more established
towns, ag_____________ between tribes
increased. Walls called palisades (wooden
defensive fences) were built around the towns to
provide p______________.
C) Social Organization
Iroquois towns contained several rows of
long___________. Each extended family (including
aunts, uncles, _________________) live in a
longhouse, with the nuclear family (or immediate
family, mother, f__________, children) lives in a
com_____________ within the longhouse.
The town was run by a town council which consisted of ch________ from each family.
The Iroquois had a three-level system of government – town, tribal, and confederacy. Canada
has a similar system – m____________, p_____________, and f______________. At all levels,
decisions were made democratically, and the opinion of the majority/minority was followed.
D) Kinship
The Iroquois were organized around matrilineal bonds (children bear father’s/mother’s name),
which was the same/different from the Inuit. Iroquoian societies were also matrilocal (live with
father’s/mother’s family).
1
Name: ________________________
Blk: ________
Date: ______________________
SS9
HW # 4
Ch. 7 (p.p. 193-197)
Eastern Woodlands
Read pages 193-197 in your text Crossroads – A Meeting of Nations.
1. Define the following terms:
Palisade
Nuclear Family
Extended Family
Archaeological Excavation
Hearth
2. Answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES:
a. In your own words, describe the make up of an Iroquois town.
b. How were the Iroquois governed? (p. 195)
c. What are the names and dates of the 3 agricultural periods of the Iroquois? (p. 196)
d. Describe each of the 3 agricultural periods in detail. (p. 196)
e. Compare (list similarities) and contrast (list differences) between the Inuit and the Iroquois in terms of:
i) subsistence
ii) social organization
f. Whose social organization is more complex? Explain why.
2
Name: ________________________
Blk: ________
Date: ______________________
SS9
HW # 4
Ch. 7 (p.p. 193-197)
The Iroquois of the Eastern Woodlands
A) Geography
The Eastern Woodlands Area is located around the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, in the
provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It was one of the most heavily populated parts of North
America even before the Europeans arrived.
Nations such as the Ottawa, Mohawk, Ojibwa, Huron and Iroquois, all lived in this region, some
since before the 13th Century.
B) Subsistence
The Iroquois were originally hunter-gatherers who eventually switched to agriculture.
The switch to agriculture lead to permanent settlement and a growth in population. The
Iroquois built large towns which were surrounded by large fields of maize, beans, squash, and
sunflowers.
With larger populations, and more established
towns, aggression between tribes increased.
Walls called palisades (wooden defensive fences)
were built around the towns to provide
protection.
C) Social Organization
Iroquois towns contained several rows of
longhouses. Each extended family (aunts, uncles,
grandparents) live in a longhouse, with the
nuclear family (or immediate family, mother,
father, children) lives in a com_____________ within the longhouse.
The town was run by a town council which consisted of chiefs from each family.
The Iroquois had a three-level system of government – town, tribal, and confederacy. Canada
has a similar system – municipal, provincial, and federal. At all levels, decisions were made
democratically, and the opinion of the majority/minority was followed.
D) Kinship
The Iroquois were organized around matrilineal bonds (children bear father’s/mother’s name),
which was different from the Inuit. Iroquoian societies were also matrilocal (live with
father’s/mother’s family).
3
Name: ________________________
Blk: ________
Date: ______________________
SS9
HW # 4
Ch. 7 (p.p. 193-197)
Eastern Woodlands
Read pages 193-197 in your text Crossroads – A Meeting of Nations.
1. Define the following terms:
Palisade: defensive fence made of logs
Nuclear Family: immediate family (e.g. mother, father, children)
Extended Family: immediate family plus aunts, uncles, grandparents etc.
Archaeological Excavation: a dig to uncover evidence of former civilizations
Hearth: fireplace
2. Answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES:
a. In your own words, describe the make up of an Iroquois town.
Protected by palisades, and surrounded by large fields of maize, beans, squash and sunflowers, rows of
longhouses are built.
b. How were the Iroquois governed? (p. 195)
town  tribal  confederacy
Each extended family (or clan) had two leaders: civil chief (normal activities) and military chief (settle
conflicts).  town council
Several towns might cooperate and meet regularly to discuss important matters.  tribal
Nations of the Iroquois met to discuss matters at the confederacy level (each tribe would send
representatives to the council)
c. What are the names and dates of the 3 agricultural periods of the Iroquois? (p. 196)
i)
ii)
iii)
early- agricultural (500-1300 CE  note: CE = common era = AD; BCE = before common era =
BC): ~8 longhouses and ~250 people
one defensive palisade; small fields; 1 hearth is shared by 2 families
middle-agricultural (1300-1400): ~ 12 longhouses and 1000 people
new crops were cultivated (beans, sunflower, squash, corn)
Late – agricultural (1400-1600): ~ 200 people
Surrounded by large fields; tobacco was a valuable trade item
d. Describe each of the 3 agricultural periods in detail. (p. 196)
(see above)
e. Compare (list similarities) and contrast (list differences) between the Inuit and the Iroquois in terms of:
i) subsistence
Inuit: seal blubber, fish, whale, caribou
Iroquois: crops (beans, corn, squash)
ii) social organization
Inuit: governing council (elders of the male line  patrilineal)
Iroquois: town  tribal  confederacy
f. Whose social organization is more complex? Explain why.
The Iroquois. The Inuits live in a much harsher climate and it was a daily struggle for them to survive.
Their populations did not grow to be very large. With agriculture, the Iroquois were able to sustain a very large
population. A more complex social organization was necessary to maintain order in such a large group.
4