I am Hiawatha, chief of the Iroquois peoples.

In the beginning, I built the great city of Onondaga and my people's culture spread over the land. I chose a location that was close to the sea and to forests that were rich with silkworms. Setting my wise men on learning the secrets of harvesting the threads by building plantations was a simple task. Workers trained in building such improvements came next, but though the Iroquois soon learned the secrets of the calendar, our knowledge did not allow us to make the tools needed to cut down sufficient trees to make room for our plantations. My workers were idle for years.

Once we mastered mining metals from the earth, we could build the saws and axes needed to clear the forests. Trapping allowed us to build the camps needed to hunt the local elephants and extract their coveted tusks. Along with the silk, these precious commodities pleased my people and the Iroquois were ready to further explore.

Armed with axe and club, the first Iroquois warriors ventured forth over the plains. Following them were my scouts and together, they cleverly waylaid the unsuspecting barbarians. With the scouts on the opposite side of the barbarians, my warriors were able to defeat the brutes easily. Some of the barbarians had the audacity to camp near my second city of Osininka. Iroquois warriors dispersed them and looted their camp.

Crossing the mountain range to the north, I met the first civilized leader, poor Augustus Caesar. No amount of flattery or attempts at trade would crack his smile. Surrounded by finery such as he is, Augustus couldn't open his heart and mind to the Iroquois way of life. Perhaps that is why he attacked me with his legions, unprovoked and without warning. Caesar's armies took my great city of Grand River. Little did Caesar know that the Iroquois nation is blessed and that the first our many Golden Ages dawned soon after his treachery. It was the turn of the tide.

Ceasar sent his armies to Osininka, but the brave defenders bombarded the approaching hordes and my horsemen were able to send out sorties to attack and then fall back behind the city walls. His vanguard beaten back, cowardly Caesar offered a peace treaty, but I refused. Backed by the confidence that my Golden Age lent, I liberated Grand River and then turn the attention of my armies to Rome. Vengeance would be sweet.

My armies swelled the forests and hills approaching the Roman capital, but before I could sack that mighty city, Augustus offered me a final offer of peace and placated me with territory and riches. How could I refuse? I am fierce, but not cruel. I took Caesar's offer of the twin cities of Antium and Cumae and signed a peace with Rome that would last millennia. I built houses of law to teach my new Roman subjects freedom, and allow them to become productive citizens of the Iroquois nation.

My warriors were instrumental in fighting the Romans, and for that I rewarded them by weaving pork fat into their hair and sharpening their blades. Behold the Mohawk warriors of the Iroquois, more fearsome than the swordsmen of other nations! When in jungle or forest, my Mohawks are deadly fighters.

With my borders relatively secure, I built many wondrous monuments in Onondaga and Osininka. The great Pyramids soon adorned my capital and their wonder inspired my workers to more quickly build roads and farms.

Because of my superior culture, I instituted many new ideas and progressive policies. Honor empowered my warriors to better defeat my uncivilized barbarians, and would later allow me to train a great General to lead my armies. Tradition allowed my cities to build wonders more quickly while the great Iroquois spirit of patronage made my gifts to smaller nations appear greater.