Don't forget that maize is a southern plant and needs to be bred to adapt to northern conditions. It's going to give a huge advantage to their southern neighbours first.
The Good Berry: A Wild Rice Domestication TL
- Thread starter PeterEzgo
- Start date
In fact, you can get close to 20% ABV with natural fermentation. I do it myself.
Great timeline. Very interesting. Per sunroot/sunchoke/Jerusalem Artichoke/whatever you want that they actually store extremely well in sand. I harvest them when I can find them, and a year that I had plenty, I stored them in sand all winter, quite successfully. Acorn flour is a major pain to make, but it fills you up like a gas pump. If memory serves, a cup of acorn flour packs something like 3000 calories, and a lot of protein. I grew up in the area, and my great-grandfather was a Huron, and he taught me a lot about foraging. He also generally advised avoiding the wild rices, because they can easily grow some mold that is extremely toxic.
Maize is a tropical plant, not just a southern plant. The big step is "turning off" its circadian rhythm. Once you've done that, you can actually grow it quite far north.
Thanks.
I have heard that before. Maybe the *Menominee will keep some of them in sand overwinter for use as a sweetner.
The problem with acorns is that oak trees take a long time to reach maturity and live a long time. Compare that with grasses, which grow, germinate and die within a single year. Grass is just much easier to domesticate. For example: wheat, rye, oats, barley, rice, maize, sorghum, millet etc. Oak trees exist all over the world but no one has ever domesticated them. I'm sure the *Menominee will use acorns when they can and maybe they'll even cultivate groves of it. But as they population expands, it won't be a major foodstuff.
Ergot is a problem all over the world. It hasn't stopped people from eating grains.
Quite correct, while not a reliable source of calories, a good oak grove on a good year can provide a lot of nutrient dense, shelf stable food. Not so reliable as to be a consistent source, though.
He was really spooked by it for some reason.
Keep up the great work.
Supplemental: Cities of the Three Waters Confederacy
Supplemental: Cities of the Three Waters Confederacy
Name: Mackinaw (“Great Turtle Island”)
Population: Very small
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Miskwaadesi (“Painted Turtle”)
Mackinaw Island, often called Sacred Mackinaw, is in the Straits of Mackinaw that connected Lake Inogami [Lake Michigan] to Lake Karegami [Lake Huron]. It was considered the center of the universe by the Menominee.
In Anishinaabe mythology, this was the place where Wazhashk the muskrat first brought back the land after the Great Flood. This was the place that held the physical manifestation of Manidoo. It was the most sacred place for the people of the Three Waters.
During the classical period, it was a religious pilgrimage site whose only permanent inhabitants were the priests that looked after the temples and buildings of the Island. Famously, it was home to Medweginoonind, Nipisii, and many others.
Mackinaw Island was also used as the meeting place for the largest and longest lasting Boodooswagaon, the Three Waters Confederacy. The temple of Asibikaashi was used for the annual meetings of the Grand Council.
Name: Munising (“At the Island”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Giniw (“Golden Eagle”)
One of the oldest and best studied settlements of the Mishigami classical period is Munising [Duluth, MN/Superior, WI]. Not be confused with Minesing [Barrie, ON], which we have discussed before.
The reason it is well preserved is simple. The shoreline of Lake Gichigami [Lake Superior] has moved in the 2000 or so years since Munising was inhabited. The port of Munising is now miles inland. This has protected it from the modern day city of Onigamiinsing [also Duluth, MN/Superior, WI].
During the classical period, it was a port city. It was a key point for trade between the western interior and Lake Gichigami [Lake Superior]. It was protected from attack by the hills that surrounded it. It controlled Minong Island [Isle Royale, MI] and the copper mines on it. As a result, the beaver clan was influential in the city.
Name: Animikiing (“Place of Thunderbirds”)
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Ajijaak (“Thunder”)
The only major port on the north shore of Lake Gichigami [Lake Superior] was the city of Animikiing [Thunder Bay, Ontario]. It controlled the trade between Lake Gichigami and the northern interior all the way to Winipaak Bay [Hudson Bay].
The city also controlled several nearby silver mines, which made it quite rich. Clans that controlled the mining, production of silver jewelry, and silver trade formed part of an oligarchy that dominated the city.
Name: Baawatigong (“City of Rapids”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Mishiikenh (“Mud Turtle”)
The city of Baawatigong [Sault Ste. Marie, MI/ON] was founded on the remains of a pre-classical city that flooded around 300 BCE. [1]
The original city was at Nodowayaning, about half a day’s journey further east by canoe. Erosion collapsed a barrier keeping Lake Gichigami [Lake Superior] from Lake Karegami [Lake Huron]. This was devastating for the population and viewed as divine punishment for their sins.
Nodowayaning was originally ruled by the Lynx clan. With its destruction, the Mide of Nodowayaning took control and rebuilt the city in a new location. This city was named Baawaitgong, or the city of rapids.
This new city still controlled the portage between the two largest the Great Lakes. It made its wealth from tolls, whitefish, and maple sugar exports.
The city gained notoriety after the First Battle of Sacred Mackinaw. When word of the battle reached Baawatigong, the city rioted. The ruling Mide was removed and killed. A new Mide was elected and he agreed to join the Three Waters Confederacy.
Three Waters Cities Map
Name: Poonchikit (“Stinking Water”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Maame (“Sturgeon”)
The city of Poonchikit [Green Bay, WI] dominated Poonchikit bay. It was the premier maritime power of Lake Inogami [Lake Michigan] during the classical period. Before the formation of the Three Waters Confederacy, it often fought wars against Baawatigong, Milliokee, and Konema.
Afterwards, the wars continued (especially with Konema who did not join the confederacy) but became smaller and more ritualized. Poonchikit was an important port and harbor for goods being transported between and through the Meskwaki Valley [Fox River Valley, WI] and Lake Inogami.
Name: Milliokee (“Pleasant Land”)
Population: Large
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Nesawaakwaad (“Forked Tree”)
Milliokee [Milwaukee, WI] lies at the confluence of three rivers as they flow into Lake Inogami [Lake Michigan]. It was these three rivers that carried trade into the city. They also supplied the rice bogs [paddies] that fed the city.
After the formation of the Three Waters Confederacy, Milliokee grew to be the largest and most powerful member of the confederacy. It was often the leader and key to votes in the Grand Council. Its military power helped to enforce the confederacy.
Milliokee continued to war against Konema and Taykopera, who did not join the confederacy. Unlike some of the other members of the confederacy, its military was not allowed to atrophy by fighting symbolic Mourning Wars.
Name: Wiikwetong (“At the head of the great bay”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Ashagi (“Heron”)
Located in a natural bay, Wiikwetong [Traverse City, MI] was a center of wine production. It was a key trade center for trade flowing from Lake Inogami [Lake Michigan] to the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan].
As the Kingdom of Miyamee grew in power, it threatened Wiikwetong. The city increasingly depended on the military might of the Three Waters Confederacy to protect it from the predatory Miyamee Kingdom.
Name: Shikaakwe (“place of wild leeks”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Bibiigiwizens (“Sparrow hawk”)
The city of Shikaakwe [Chicago, IL] was not yet the behemoth it would become. It is located at the shortest portage between Mishi [Mississippi] and Great Lakes watersheds. It was a center of trade.
During the classical period, it was often bullied by and in conflict with Milliokee [Milwaukee, WI]. Once maize arrived from Meso-Minisia, its connection to the uplands regions would accelerate its growth.
Name: Sagong (“Place of the Outlet”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Omigizi (“Bald Eagle”)
The city of Sagong [Bay City/Saginaw, MI] was located in a protected bay at a river outlet. It was the largest port on Lake Karegami [Lake Huron]. It was a key center for trade between Lake Karegami and the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan].
Like Wiikwetong, it was increasingly threatened by the Kingdom of Miyamee from the south. As it became increasingly hemmed in by the rising power of the kingdom of Miyamee, Sagong relied more and more on the Three Waters Confederacy for protection. This was resented by the other members of the Confederacy.
There were many other small and medium sized cities in the three waters confederacy. They were tributaries of the nine above and did not get a vote in the Grand Council.
Next time, we will discuss the Middle Kingdoms of the Mishigami.
[1] This is a real thing that happened sometime between 500 BCE and 1 CE. We don’t know exactly when, so I made up a date.
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Gotta say that as a former Wisconsinite of the Milwaukee area, I really enjoy this update
Chapter 16: The Middle Kingdoms
Chapter 16: The Middle Kingdoms
The Naawayi’ii (literally “in the middle of”) Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan] and the Odawa (“merchant”) Peninsula [Ontario Peninsula] separate the western basin of the Great Lakes, which is heavily Algonquian, from the two eastern lakes, which have mixed Algonquian and Ongweh’onweh [Iroquois] populations. Control of these peninsulas was the key to the most lucrative trade routes of the Mishigami.
For much of the early classical period the Kingdom of Miyamee [Detroit, MI/Windsor,ON] slowly rose in power. It was founded on the shores of Lake Waawiyaataanong [Lake St. Clair]. This was the only water route between Lake Karegami [Lake Huron] and Lake Wabishigami [Lake Eire]. Miyamee quickly gained control of all the land around this strategic lake.
Through this Miyamee was able to grow rich by taxing or confiscating the trade goods that passed through Lake Waawiyaataanong. These taxes and tolls then paid for the Miyamee military, which quickly grew to have a fearsome reputation.
Miyamee built a hegemonic empire the likes of which had never been seen in the Mishigami. The cities of Gnondi [Flint, MI], Owashnong [Grand Rapids, MI], Gooshnik [Ann Arbor, MI], Pakatekweyang [London, ON], and many others sent tribute to Miyamee.
As a hegemonic empire, Miyamee did not rule these areas directly. Instead, local rulers and forms of government remained in place. They would be required to send tribute, usually in the form of trade goods. Manoomin, bede, slaves, elk antlers, copper, wampum, silver, obsidian, jade, and many other things might be demanded.
They might also have restrictions placed upon them. For example, they might only be allowed to train so many zhimaaganish. They might not be allowed to build defensive walls. Their foreign policy was usually restricted. They could not go to war or even speak with representatives of foreign Sagamos without the permission of Miyamee. These restrictions left them venerable to raiding by opportunistic neighbors not under the thumb of Miyamee.
Map of the Mishigami and Ohiyo Valleys in the Early Classical Period. The Kingdom of Miyamee is colored brown. The Kingdom of Minesing is colored yellow. The Black Swamp Confederacy is colored grey. [1]
We have already spoken about the competition between Miyamee [Detroit, MI] and Minesing [Barrie, ON] over the trade routes through the Odawa Peninsula. Minesing was also a hegemonic empire and functioned similarly to Miyamee. The other major player was the Makademashkiig Boodooswagon, or the Black Swamp Confederacy.
The Black Swamp Confederacy was formed in opposition to Miyamee. Its principal players were Mishawaka, Kekionga, and Wathipi. They used their position to bypass the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan] and the Kingdom of Miyamee.
The three members of the Black Swamp Confederacy used the same tolls and taxes. They used the same weights and measures. They coordinated their defense against foreign attacks, especially those from Miyamee.
Mishawaka, Kekionga, and Wathipi were all dominated by oligarchic trading clans. These clans had members in each of the three cities and in many other cities across the Mishigami. The Sagamos of each of the cities was relatively weak.
Unlike the Three Waters Confederacy, the Grand Council of the Black Swamp confederacy did not give one vote for each city. Instead, each of the important clans had a vote. Often, though not always, the Sagamos of the cities would be the head of a voting clan.
The Sagamos of Miyamee was similarly weak. The trading clans of Miyamee could and would depose and appoint a Sagamos at will. For this reason, the conflict between Miyamee and the Black Swamp Confederacy can be thought of as a conflict between the competing clans more than a conflict between kingdoms. These groups of clans acted like cartels, enforcing their trade, farming, and craft monopolies through violence and the threat of violence.
The cities of Lake Wabishigami during the early classical period were largely independent and in competition with each other. As the classical period wore on, the Kingdom of Miyamee attempted to exercise influence and control in Lake Wabishigami but largely failed.
The cities along the Wabash and the Ohiyo [Ohio] Rivers will be discussed later. During the early classical period, they were small and unimportant. They would increase in importance and population when maize was adapted for temperate conditions.
Next time, we will discuss the Ongweh’onweh cities around Lake Ontario. But first, a supplemental discussing the cities of the Middle Kingdoms.
[1] Three Waters Confederacy in Red. Kingdom of Gakaabikaang in orange. Kingdom of Cahokia in dark red. Kingdom of Miyamee in brown. Kingdom of Minesing in yellow. Ontario Confederacy in green. Black Swamp Confederacy in grey. Kingdom of Hoshalaga in pink. Miscellaneous city states in purple.
Comments? Questions?
Fantastic stuff like always! Nice to see these polities crystallise over time
Thanks!
Supplemental: Cities of the Middle Kingdoms
Supplemental: Cities of the Middle Kingdoms
Name: Kekionga (“Blackberry Bush”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Akwenakkwa (“turtle”)
Type: Black Swamp Confederacy
The city of Kekionga [Fort Wayne, IN] was one of the oldest large cities in the Mishigami. As the saying goes, Kekionga was old when the world was young.
Kekionga formed along the short portage between the Maumee and Wabash rivers. It was located at the western edge of the Black Swamp. The wetlands were transformed into rice bogs [paddies] which fed its growing population. Its name came from the abundant blackberries that grew in the area.
It was a part of the chain of settlements used to bypass the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan] in trade. This helped its growth as well. It would be outpaced by the growth of Miyamee during the classical period.
As the Kingdom of Miyamee grew in power, Kekionga feared falling into its orbit. It joined with Mishawaka and Wathipi to form the Black Swamp Confederacy.
Name: Mishawaka (“Big Rapids”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Omashkooz (“elk”)
The city of Mishawaka [South Bend/Mishawaka, IN] was located on a short portage. This portage connected the Kanakee River to the Saakiiwee River [St. Joseph River]. The Kanakee River flows into the Illiniwe [Illinois] river which flows into the Mishi [Mississippi]. The Saakiiwee River flows into Lake Inogami [Lake Michigan]. This made it a vital trade link between the Great Lakes and Mishi watersheds. It also benefitted from east-west trade trying to bypass the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan].
It was a frequent target for the belligerence of both the Three Waters Confederacy and, later on, the Kingdom of Miyamee. This is the reason it joined the Black Swamp Confederacy.
Name: Wathipi (“elk”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Mishewe (“elk”)
Type: Black Swamp Confederacy
The city of Wathipi [Toledo, OH] was the last in the chain of cities bypassing the Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan]. It was located at the mouth of the Maumee River as it flowed into Lake Wabishigami [Lake Eire].
It is located on the eastern edge of the Black Swamp. The wetlands of the swamp were transformed into rice bogs [paddies] as Wathipi developed. Initially, its main rival was Kekionga but as Miyamee expanded Wathipi came under increasing threat. It decided to join with Kekionga and Mishawaka rather than face destruction by Miyamee.
Name: Miyamee (“Big Water”)
Population: Large
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Ajijaak (“crane”)
Type: Wewan (Kingdom)
The city of Miyamee [Detroit, MI/Windsor, ON] controlled Lake Waawiyaataanong [Lake St. Claire] and with it, the route between Lake Karegami [Lake Huron] and Lake Wabishigami [Lake Eire]. It was made rich by tolls and controlled a large hegemonic empire that extended into both the Odawa Peninsula [Ottawa Peninsula] and Naawayi’ii Peninsula [Lower Peninsula of Michigan].
Its southward expansion was stopped by the formation of the Black Swamp Confederacy. Its northern expansion was slowed and then stopped by Minesing. Its eastern expansion was thwarted by the Ontario Confederacy. It was the richest and most powerful kingdom in the Mishigami during the classical period.
Cities of the Middle Kingdoms of the Mishigami
Name: Minesing (“island”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Asabikeshiinh (“spider”)
Type: Wewan (Kingdom)
The city of Minesing [Barrie, ON] is located on Lake Zhooniyaang (“Silver”) [Lake Simcoe]. It was a lesser rival to Miyamee. In spite of its name, it is not located on an island but on a bay.
The wetlands south and west of the lake were easily transformed into rice bogs [paddies]. This made Minesing more powerful early on. As trade increased, however, Minesing was outshined and outcompeted by Miyamee.
Even so, Minesing remained in control of a strategic position on the trade routes through the Odawa Peninsula. It remained powerful enough throughout the classical period to retain its independence and even maintained a hegemonic empire. It had good relations with the Ontario Confederacy. Records of their diplomacy during the classical period offer us a rare glimpse into the pre-literate society of the Ongweh’onweh [Iroquois].
Name: Saundustee
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Gaagaagishiinh (“raven”)
Type: Oodena (City-State)
The city of Saundustee [Sandusky, OH] was located on a natural port on the Wabishigami. It was never as large or important as its neighbors. It was repeatedly threatened by Miyamee, the Black Swamp Confederacy and Cuyahoga. It managed to cling to its independence throughout the classical period by playing each of the larger factions off each other. Each faction preferred a weak and independent Saundustee to a Saundustee under the control of their rivals.
Name: Cuyahoga (“Crooked River”)
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Algonkian
Ruling Doodem: Animosh (“dog”)
Type: Oodena (City-State)
The city of Cuyahoga [Cleveland, OH] was located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. It was one of the most powerful cities located on Wabishigami Lake [Lake Eire]. Its merchants had a reputation for deviousness.
Like Miaymee, its trading clans could and did depose and appoint the Sagamos of the city at will. This was resented by the populace, who were known to riot if a well loved Sagamos was removed for petty reasons.
It was never as powerful as cities like Miyamee and its attempts to build a hegemonic empire resulted in repeated failure.
Name: Wyandot (“islanders”)
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh [Iroquois]
Ruling Doodem: Gekek (“Hawk”)
Type: Oodena (City-State)
The city of Wyandot [Eire, PN] was western most Ongweh’onweh [Iroquois] ethnic city. It was a port city in Lake Wabishigami. It was an important center for trade between the Ongweh’onweh cities further east and the Algonquian cities of Lake Wabishigami.
Like the other Ongweh’onweh cities, it had not adopted Mowin Syllabics by the time of the early classical period. What is known about its history was either written down later or is from neighboring sources.
Next time, we will discuss the Ongweh’onweh cities around Lake Ontario and the Micta River [St. Lawrence River].
Comments? Questions?
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So what's going on where Toronto and Mississaga are IOTL? Are the Ontario Confederacy making cities at the Credit River or Humber or Don?
So the reason I did that is because I didn't want to have to go through and try to calculate population estimates for every city. I believe its mentioned earlier that Miyamee's population has a high estimate of around 60'000. That would be considered "large". <10'000 is small. Between that is medium.
Later on, with more centralized governments and agricultural improvements (corn is coming, I promise!) the biggest cities will get even bigger.
Chapter 17: The Sea of Stars
Chapter 17: The Sea of Stars
The areas around Lake Ontario and the Micta River [St. Lawrence River] were ethnically Ongweh’onweh [Iroquois]. The Ongweh’onweh adopted agriculture more slowly than their Algonquian neighbors and likely from their Algonquian neighbors. By the classical period, they were just as agricultural as the Menominee.
However, they adopted writing more slowly. Mowin syllabics needed to be modified in order to accurately represent the sounds of the Ongweh’onweh languages. This took time and before it was done, the history of the eastern Mishigami is not recorded.
Even so, we know many things about the Ongweh’onweh in the classical period. They shared many cultural and societal aspects with the Menominee. They farmed manoomin in irrigated rice bogs. They lived in longhouses. Their religion was similar. Most Ojichaag had an Algonquian name and an Ongweh’onweh name. And so on.
They also had many differences. They used matrilineal kinship groups. Men moved into the longhouse of their wife’s family, instead of the reverse.
In fact, women were generally more important and powerful in Ongweh’onweh society. Clan mothers chose the (still always male) Sagamos and could depose him, rather than the patriarchal Ogimaa of the Menominee.
A female Agoiander functioned as a sort of prime minister or chancellor. She kept the accounts and ran the land of state while the male Sagamos was in charge of war and diplomacy. Many Menominee histories derogatorily refer to the “women Sagamos” that ran Ongweh’onweh cities.
The most important political player of the Lake Ontario area was the Ontario Boodooswagon, or Ontario Confederacy. It included just about every major Ongweh’onweh city around the lake and some further inland.
The Ontario Confederacy was formed shortly after Mississauga [Toronto/Mississauga, ON] was attacked and forced to submit to the Kingdom of Minesing. Mississauga was the terminus of the portage from Lake Karegami [Lake Huron] to Lake Ontario. Control of it meant that Minesing controlled the entire portage and could charge exorbitant tolls on the route.
Rather than remain vassals, Mississauga hoped to rebel but needed allies if they were to have a chance. They convinced the Ongweh’onweh city states across Lake Ontario to come to their defense in exchange for trading rites. Only Tinawatawa [Hamilton, ON], Mississauga’s perennial rival refused.
Together, the newly formed Ontario Confederacy defeated Minesing and established their own trade monopoly on Lake Ontario. Tinawatawa continued to hold out until the rise of Miyamee. Rather than fall under the influence of Miyamee, Tinawatawa chose to join the confederacy.
Like the other boodooswagon around the Great Lakes, the Ontario confederacy set levels for tolls and taxes. It standardized weights and measures throughout the region. It provided for common defense and mediated conflicts between members.
The Grand Council of the Ontario Confederacy had two levels. Clans in each Oodena voted for representatives who then voted for their city’s interest. If those representatives could not decide, each clan would send a representative. This was rare.
Further east, the Micta river valley came to be dominated by the Kingdom of Hoshalaga [Montreal, QC].
Name: Tinawatawa
Population: Medium
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Agedzooni’ga (“Bear”)
Type: Ontario Confederacy
The Odawa Peninsula is the best known and understood part of the Ontario Confederacy during pre-literate times. All of the city states on the peninsula had trade and diplomatic relations with Miyamee and Minesing.
The city of Tinawatawa [Hamilton, ON] was the largest and most powerful Ongweh’onweh city on the Odawa Peninsula. It dominated the portage from Lake Wabishigami [Lake Eire] to Lake Ontario from a natural harbor on Lake Ontario. Its citadel was built into the Niagara escarpment, which runs through the city.
Initially, its relationship with Minesing and Mississauga was hostile. In order to avoid being squeezed between Minesing, Miyamee, and the Ontario Confederacy Tinawatawa decided to join the Ontario Confederacy and ally with Minesing.
This strategy paid off. Minesing could not fight Tinawatawa when Miyamee was so powerful. They both needed each other to complete the trade route through the Odawa Peninsula. The Ontario Confederacy was brought into Tinawatawa’s trade routes and gained a buffer from the threat of Miyamee.
Name: Mississauga
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Noodzagwii (“snipe”)
Type: Ontario Confedearcy
The city of Mississauga [Toronto/Mississauga, ON] was situated between the Wonskotanach River [Don River, ON] and Gabekanaang River [Humber River]. For much of its existence it was in conflict with its neighbor, Tinawatawa.
After being threatened by Minesing [Barrie, ON], Mississauga looked for allies across the water. This was the beginning of the Ontario Confederacy. Ironically, despite being a founding member, Mississauga’s importance to the Confederacy would wane after the admittance of Tinawatawa. In later periods, the votes of Mississauga were even controlled by Tinawatawa.
Name: Seneca
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Otayooni (“Wolf”)
Type: Ontario Confederacy
The city of Seneca [Buffalo, NY] controlled the area around Niagara Falls. It was a part of the Ontario Confederacy. Various attempts to build canals to bypass the waterfalls were made during this period. They all failed.
Niagara Falls itself was a sacred site and controlled by priests during the classical period. It had no vote in the Ontario Confederacy. Instead, Seneca voted for Niagara.
Name: Onondagega
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Agadeiioo’ga (“Heron”)
Type: Ontario Confederacy
The city of Onondagega [Syracuse, NY] was made rich by trade in salt. It is the Ongweh’onweh city most often mentioned in inscriptions after Wyandot and Tinawatawa. The Heron clan both ruled the city and controlled the trade in salt throughout the Ontario Confederacy.
Ongweh’onweh Cities of the Classical Period
Name: Sawcunk
Population: Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Unknown
Type: Ontario Confederacy
The city of Sawcunk [Rochester, NY] controlled the fertile Jenisii River valley [Genesee River valley].
Name: Manidoana (“The Garden of the Great Spirit”)
Population: Very Small
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Unknown (Controlled by Mide; perhaps no ruling doodem)
Type: Ontario Confederacy
The area called Manidoana [Thousand Islands, QC/ Kingston, Ontario] meaning “the Garden of the Great Spirit” was a holy area. It was controlled by priests. It was famous for its sauces, particularly a type of fish sauce that was an elite item popular across the Mishigami. [2] It would later be conquered by the rising Kingdom of Hoshalaga.
Name: Hoshalaga (“Big Rapids”)
Population: Large
Ethnic Majority: Ongweh’onweh
Ruling Doodem: Genyadii (“Turtle”)
Type: Wewan (Kingdom)
The city of Hoshalaga [Montreal, QC] was located on an island at the confluence of the Odawa River [Ottawa River] and Micta River [St. Lawrence River]. It was one of the earliest major cities in the east.
It was a hegemonic empire similar to Miyamee or Minesing. It grew later and more slowly than either of the Middle Kingdoms. However, there was little doubt that it would dominate the Micta River Valley. It was many times larger than any other settlement in the area.
Next time, we will discuss the western periphery of the Mishigami during the classical period. But first, a supplemental on the Midsummer Festival.
[1] Three Waters Confederacy in Red. Kingdom of Gakaabikaang in orange. Kingdom of Cahokia in dark red. Kingdom of Miyamee in brown. Kingdom of Minesing in yellow. Ontario Confederacy in green. Black Swamp Confederacy in grey. Kingdom of Hoshalaga in pink. Miscellaneous city states in purple.
[2] Yes, this is a reference to Thousand Islands Salad Dressing.
The schedule for the next few updates looks like this:
Thursday: Supplemental on the Midsummer Festival. This was originally written for Chapter 5 but it got too long and off topic. I've decided to put it here to break up some of the monotony of the geographic tour.
7/17: Western Periphery. The parts of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota that haven't already been covered.
7/24: A day in the life of a city dweller.
7/31: Elections and government
8/7: Finally and at long last the introduction of corn.
Comments? Questions?
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I'm not quite sure what you are asking. I suspect you made a typo and meant to type "who were the wewan".
"Wewan" means kingdom. In this period, that means a hegemonic kingdom. So, there is a capital city who forces the other, less powerful cities to pay tribute. They could also force the smaller cities to destroy their walls, not train warriors, and not send diplomats. In the latest update, Hoshalaga [Montreal, QC] is the capital of a wewan that controls the entire St. Lawrence River Valley.
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While maize is coming north, is there a possibility that Texas Wildrice could spread in the south?
Zizania texana is too specialized (it only grows in the San Marcos River) and doesn't yield much.
Northern Wild Rice requires a certain number of days in cold water before it will sprout. This is called vernalization. It is possible to breed this out (its been done with other plants like Kale). ITTL it will be. I doubt it would be a great tropical plant but sub-tropical areas like the American southeast should be fine.