Iroquois Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier

Written by Timothy J. Shannon

Narrated by George Wilson

Distinguished history professor and author Timothy J. Shannon is a recognized expert on the Indians of colonial America. In this concise study of Iroquois diplomacy, Shannon paints a vivid picture of the American frontier's most successful Indian confederacy. This enlightening narrative explores the shrewd, sometimes treacherous, tactics the Iroquois used to withstand the juggernaut of colonization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 14, 2008
• ISBN: 9781436145879

Reviews for Iroquois Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier

[ashryan_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There are two competing narratives about the Iroquois that dominate popular conceptions of them---that they were an independent and warlike people who rose up against colonial encroachments on their territory, and that they were politically advanced culture whose form of government was a major source of inspiration for the American founders. Shannon provides an evidence-based history that shows that neither of these views is particularly accurate. Far from a federalist system, the Iroquois peoples were more of a loose confederacy based largely on a clan system, often with individual towns or villages acting independently of the larger group, and all of them basically acting pragmatically in their dealings with foreign powers. He paints a picture of them as neither "noble savages", nor just plain savages (though still emerging from a state of savagery in their recent history), with large and relatively politically complex settlements. Neither the European colonists nor the Iroquois were entirely to blame for their eventual fate, though there was plenty of blame to go around on both sides. It was more a case of two very different cultures at different stages of development that very often simply couldn't understand each other. The descriptions of the ongoing diplomatic negotiations are sometimes a bit dry, but on the whole this is a very interesting read for anyone interested in Native American, or just plain American, history.

[itzar_15 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good overall. Interesting introduction to Iroquois society and the role the Six Nations played in American and Canadian History. The downside is that it's easy to loose track of the narrative because the events are so repetitive (treaty council in Montreal, treaty council in Albany, repeat as needed).