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The History and Culture of Iroquois Diplomacy is a comprehensive exploration of the treaty-making traditions of the Six Nations, offering a deep dive into their diplomatic strategies, alliances, and political rhetoric. Edited by Francis Jennings, this interdisciplinary guide brings together historical, cultural, and linguistic perspectives to analyze the treaties negotiated by the Iroquois with Dutch, English, French, and American representatives.
The book provides a systematic study of Iroquois treaty procedures, featuring essays from scholars on topics such as the structure of negotiations, the role of wampum in councils, and the significance of place names in treaty-making. It also includes a descriptive treaty calendar spanning 1613 to 1913, maps, and a glossary of figures of speech used in Iroquois diplomacy. By making these documents accessible to both scholars and general readers, this work stands as a landmark in the study of Iroquois history and governance.
About the author
Francis Jennings was an American historian, best known for his works on the colonial history of the United States. He is the author of several books including
The Invasion of America: Indians, Colonialism and the Cant of Conquest and
The Ambiguous Iroquois Empire: The Covenant Chain. Confederation of Indian Tribes with English Colonies (1984); New York: Norton.
Summary
This volume is an interdisciplinary guide to the Treaties of the Six Nations and their league. It provides a description of the earliest recorded treaties and an alphabetical list of persons involved in Iroquois treaty making.
