1. Economic Activities & Systems of Alliances around 1500

2. I. Trade among Native Nations
Barter trade
Purpose of Trade:
Used to satisfy needs and establish alliances
They traded items they didn’t have access to in their physical environment:
Iroquoians often traded pottery or crops for meat and fur
Common Trade items:
Copper for hooks, needles and knives or weapons
Shells for jewellery
Obsidian(hard stone) for weapons and tools

3. Obsidian Tool
Shell Necklace
Copper Arrowhead

4. II. The Scope of the Native trade Networks
Across Continent - vast networks across North America were established for trade
Traveled mainly by water (canoes) and forest trails over long distances
Main trading locations were at the confluence of two waterways
Example -St. Lawrence and Ottawa River

6. III. The Significance of trade
Established strong alliances between nations
Trading partners became military and political allies
Trade gatherings were often held to renew, maintain and create good relations

7. IV. Systems of Alliances
Groups of allied natives often joined together to form systems of alliances
United they coordinated their actions to:
Conduct trade
Defend each other,
Fight common enemies
Maintain political relationships

8. The Wampum Belt
Typically exchanged during an alliance meeting in support the chief’s proposals
Each element represented a specific message

9. IV. Systems of Alliances
Objects of rivalry and war
Tensions between systems of alliances arose at times due to:
Hunting territories
Trade goods
Tolls for trade goods
Unresolved issues sometime led to war

10. IV. Systems of Alliances
The Fate of Prisoners
During war, prisoners were often taken captive and tortured and killed
Some groups (Iroquoians) adopted them in the family to replace a deceased family member