History research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History - Research Paper Example Evidently, the Iroquois Confederacy has elicited much interest from an archaeological perspective. This has largely been due to the comparative analysis of the various artefacts from the different villages that offer insight into the social and political influence on the human material culture over the course of time. Prior to the establishment of the Confederacy, all of the founding nations were bitter nations who fought each other. To this end, the historical literature of the Iroquois reveals that leaders know as Dekanawidah also known as the Peacemaker came to the nations preaching peace and unity(Fenton, 112). In this regard, the Dekanawidah was assisted by the Hiawatha in persuading the entire five nation to embrace the ‘Great Law of Peace.’ Consequently, a government known as the Iroquois Confederacy was established. The government promoted peace, respect and cooperation in work among all the nations. Evidently, the Confederacy had been in existence even before th e European exploration began in North America. Moreover, the Tuscarora nation migrated from the Southern homeland to join the Iroquois Confederacy in 1702due to European settlement. ... To this end, the members of a clan tracked their ancestors and family members through their mothers. In this regard, there was a common female ancestor within each clan set up consistent with a group of families. Moreover, a man moved into the female’s longhouse once they were married. The longhouses were housing shelters for members of the same clan(Fenton, 114). Children conceived by both parents were henceforth members of the mother’s clan. In this regard, all the members of the same clan regarded each other as family and therefore did not intermarry. The longhouses played a pertinent role in the governance of the Iroquois Confederacy. To this end, apart from housing clan members, the longhouses acted as meeting venues. In this regard, the women and men assembled in different groups to discuss pertinent events, issues as well as offering advice to the leaders. There were different roles associated with all the members of the Iroquois Confederacy. Foremost, the childr en often listened in to the various discussions undertaken in the longhouses. In this regard, the art of listening enabled them to learn about the issues affecting them as well as the skills involved in decision making. Women and men held positions of importance in the Iroquois Confederacy and the children were groomed into these roles once they grew up. The issues affecting women were articulated through two major avenues. These were the Clan mothers and the women councils. The most respectable and oldest women within the clans were known as the Clan Members. The position was hereditary and passed down across generations. Their roles pertained to maintenance of balance and harmony within the nations and clans.