- Made up of five neighboring tribes located in Central New York State   (Syracuse Area)
        o Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Seneca tribes
- Had an agricultural economy based mainly on corn, beans, apples and peaches
- Public records were woven in wampum belts
- Characteristics of towns
        o Bark covered longhouses
                § Contained a large clan
                § Central rooms were used for social and political purposes
- Iroquois Government
        o Councils were fairly democratic
                § Delegates were elected by various families, but had to be approved by the chief
                        · Could be impeached
        o League as a whole had no single leader
                § Decision were made by a unanimous vote of the League Council
- With skilled warfare and unity the Iroquois nation was able to control land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River
        o Led to a balance of power with the French and the English