Haida Civilization, the viking of Americas

[CivArmy s. 1994]

This civ will be included in ACM. Special thanks to Sword of Geddon for the great idea, texts and choice Haida characteristics.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida01.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida02.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida03.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida04.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida05.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida06.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida07.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida08.zip
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads7/haida09.zip

The bellow UU comes toghter, it was done by Aaglo

Civ Name: Haida
Bonuses: Militaristic and Seafaring (C3C) or Militaristic and Industrious (Vanilla/PTW).
Title and Leader Name: Chief Koyah
Favorite and Shunned Government: Feudalism/Fascism (C3C) or Democracy/Communism (Vanilla and PTW)
Aggression Level: 4 (high)
Culture Group: American
Noun: Haida
Adjective: Haida
Default and Alternative colors: Purple (the same of Vikings) and Brown (the same of Russians).
Unique Unit: Haida Canoe
Civilopedia entry:RACE_HAIDA

Military Leaders:
Chief Wiah
Chief Ninsingwas
Chief Skidgate

Scientific Leaders:
Chief Gold
Chief Skowl

City Names:.

Ninstints
Masset
Kiusta
Skidegate
Kung
Yan
Kayung
Masset
Hiellan
Cha'atl
Haina
Kaisun
Cumshewa
Skedans
Tanu
Skungwai
Klinkwan
Sukkwan
Howkan
Kasaan
Dadens
Yaku

Civilopedia:

The Haida are widely considered to have the most highly developed culture and sophisticated art tradition of British Columbia's aboriginal peoples. Extending from the Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) to south Alaska, their lands included major stands of red cedar, the raw material for their huge dugout canoes, intricate carvings and refined architecture. Haida trade links were built on the reputation of their skill - other BC peoples considering the ownership of a Haida canoe, for example, as a major status symbol. Renowned as traders and artists, the Haida were also feared warriors, paddling into rival villages and returning with canoes laden with goods, slaves and the severed heads of anyone who had tried to resist. Their skill on the open sea has seen them labelled the "Vikings" of northern America. This success at warfare was due, in part, to their use of wooden slat armour, which included a protective face visor and helmets topped with terrifying images.
Socially the Haida divided themselves into two main groups, the Eagles and the Ravens, which were further divided into hereditary kin groups named after their original village location. Marriage within each major group - or moiety - was considered incestuous, so Eagles would always seek Raven mates and vice versa. Furthermore, descent was traced through the female line, which meant that a chief could not pass his property onto his sons because they would belong to a different moiety - instead his inheritance passed to his sister's sons. Equally, young men might have to leave their childhood village to claim their inheritance from their maternal uncles.
Haida villages were an impressive sight, their vast cedar-plank houses dominated by fifteen-metre totem poles displaying the kin group's unique animal crest or other mythical creatures, all carved in elegantly fluid lines. Entrance to each house was through the gaping mouth of a massive carved figure; inside, supporting posts were carved into the forms of the crest animals and most household objects were similarly decorative. Equal elaboration attended the many Haida ceremonies, one of the most important of which was the mortuary potlatch, serving as a memorial service to a dead chief and the validation of the heir's right to succession. The dead individual was laid out at the top of a carved pole near the village entrance, past which the visiting chiefs would walk wearing robes of finely woven and patterned mountain-goat wool and immense headdresses fringed with long sea-lion whiskers and ermine skins.
A hollow at the top of each headdress was filled with eagle feathers, which floated down onto the witneses as the chiefs sedately danced.
After European contact the Haida population was devastated by smallpox and other epidemics. In 1787, there were around 8000 Haida scattered across the archipelago. Their numbers were then reduced from around 6000 in 1835 to 588 by 1915. Consequently they were forced to abandon their traditional villages and today gather largely at two sites, Old Masset (pop. 650) and Skidegate (Haida pop. 550). At other locations the homes and totems fell into disrepair, and only at Sgan Gwaii , a remote village at the southern tip of the Queen Charlottes, has an attempt been made to preserve an original Haida settlement; it has now been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
These days the Haida number around 2000, and are highly regarded in the North American art world; Bill Reid, Freda Diesing and Robert Davidson are amongst the best-known figures, and scores of other Haida craftspeople produce a mass of carvings and jewellery for the tourist market. They also play a powerful role in the islands' social, political and cultural life, having been vocal in the formation of sites such as the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, South Moresby's Haida Heritage Site and Duu Guusd Tribal Park, the last established to protect old aboriginal villages on Graham Island's northwest coast.

Civilopedia, Haida Galley (UU):

The Haida Canoe is a strong and fast replacement for the Galley in the Haida's early navy. It receives one extra movement point, as well as one extra attack point, costing 10 shields more.
The Haida were entering the Bronze Age when Europeans arrived in the New World. Before seeing European ships off their coast, the Haida largely used large, well-made Canoes for their raiding and sea transportation. However, seeing the large sailing craft of the Europeans inspired them to create their own sailing ship. The result was a vessel remarkably similar to the Galleys used by the Ancient Greeks. The ship was expertly made in the Haida style, and sporting beautifully decorated sails. This ship was another reason why the Haida earned the nickname, "the Vikings of North America".

 

[Mobilize]

Awesome. I didn't know the Haida Galley was completed already.. Aaglo did a fine job.

I have the same set-up for the Haida to be put into 31OCM. Three of your civilizations are going to be included.. Since you are on the team, is it alright if I use your civilopedia entry.. it's really good.

Also here is a city list which includes more cities and a few other Native American settlements where the Haida also lived, with the Tlingit (Sitka
Kitimat, Metlakatla, Ketchikan). It also includes the national park (Duu Gusd) and a beach which is highly sacred to the Haida (Naikun), also an island of theirs which served as an outpost (Khunghit). Hope you enjoy.

Masset
Skidegate
Klinkwan
Old Masset
Kiusta
Sukkwan
Kung
Yan
Dadens
Skunwai
Sitka
Cha'atl
Kayung
Yaku
Kitimat
Cemshewa
Howkan
Metlakatla
Hiellan
Kaisun
Tanu
Kasaan
Yan
Skedans
Ketchikan
Sgan Gwaii
Duu Gusd
Naikun
Khunghit

You also could had Mungo Martin to scientific leaders, he is the master carver of the Haida and has helped the Haida Nation a whole lot. Also Sharvit and Guujaaw would work well for military leaders for being the attourneys of the Haida Nation which have fought against the British Colombia judicial court for many Haida related matters.

 

[zulu9812]

Cool! Another North American civ! This will certainly help the geographic spread of civs. Where on a world map should I put this civ's starting position?

 

[CivArmy s. 1994]

Awesome. I didn't know the Haida Galley was completed already.. Aaglo did a fine job.

I have the same set-up for the Haida to be put into 31OCM. Three of your civilizations are going to be included.. Since you are on the team, is it alright if I use your civilopedia entry.. it's really good.

Also here is a city list which includes more cities and a few other Native American settlements where the Haida also lived, with the Tlingit (Sitka
Kitimat, Metlakatla, Ketchikan). It also includes the national park (Duu Gusd) and a beach which is highly sacred to the Haida (Naikun), also an island of theirs which served as an outpost (Khunghit). Hope you enjoy.

Masset
.
.
.
Khunghit

You also could had Mungo Martin to scientific leaders, he is the master carver of the Haida and has helped the Haida Nation a whole lot. Also Sharvit and Guujaaw would work well for military leaders for being the attourneys of the Haida Nation which have fought against the British Colombia judicial court for many Haida related matters.

Thanks for enjoying, for add these 3 civis in your new mod and for the tips (more cities and leaders to Haida civ)!!!

 

[CivArmy s. 1994]

Cool! Another North American civ! This will certainly help the geographicspread of civs. Where on a world map should I put this civ's starting position?

Zulu, thanks for enjoying!
Haida lies in west coast of Canada, in the biggest island between Alaska and Canadian/US boarders, I think ths island calls British Columbia, I'm not sure.

 

[Mobilize]

The Haida have two main settlements. Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) and Kaigani Haida (Southern Alaska). I would place the Haida's starting location in what would be the middle of British Colombia on the coast or up near Alaska on the coast.

 

[Quasar1011]

Fascinating civilopedia entry for the Haida, CivArmy! American students get to learn about Iroquois, Sioux, Cherokee, and other tribes, but I had never heard of the Haida. This sounds like an interesting tribe! Is there any colourful artwork with totems forthcoming?

 

[CivArmy s. 1994]

Fascinating civilopedia entry for the Haida, CivArmy! American students get to learn about Iroquois, Sioux, Cherokee, and other tribes, but I had never heard of the Haida. This sounds like an interesting tribe! Is there any colourful artwork with totems forthcoming?

Actily the civilopedia was not done by me, Sword of Geddon did the good work I tried find a Toten freebie to put in Ancient leader, but I did not find it

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I really have to learn to get a world map going. It would be a nice change from the Random maps.

I know the Haida will be a favorite of mine once Civarmy and I start the ACM.

 

[Reprisal]

What distinguishes the native tribes of North America's Pacific Northwest from most of the other notable inhabitants is the fact that they are sedentary peoples. Rather than having a nomadic lifestyle of the natives of the great plains, tribes like the Haida, Salish, and Nuu-chah-Nulth (formerly called Nootka) were a settled people. All relied heavily on harvesting fishfrom the oceans, most notably salmon though some tribes were renown whalers. As a result of the bountiful stocks of fish, the tribes of the Pacific Northwest were different from those of the Great Plains. Able to stay in one place, a limited degree of economic specialization was allowed to occur. Though it was at a relatively early stage of this economic specialization, the coastal natives were on their way to creating their own distinctive culture -- and perhaps in another world, their own civilization.

As soon as I get home, I am going to download this new tribe and install it. I will probably be devoted to playing them, but of course, I'm probably a bit biased -- I'm a native of the Pacific Northwest myself (West Coast of Vancouver Island).

- Rep.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I wonder what the Haida would be like now if the discovery of the new world was put off for lets say, 1000 years....

 

[frekk]

What distinguishes the native tribes of North America's Pacific Northwest from most of the other notable inhabitants is the fact that they are sedentary peoples. Rather than having a nomadic lifestyle of the natives of the great plains, tribes like the Haida, Salish, and Nuu-chah-Nulth (formerly called Nootka) were a settled people. All relied heavily on harvesting fishfrom the oceans, most notably salmon though some tribes were renown whalers. As a result of the bountiful stocks of fish, the tribes of the Pacific Northwest were different from those of the Great Plains. Able to stay in one place, a limited degree of economic specialization was allowed to occur. Though it was at a relatively early stage of this economic specialization, the coastal natives were on their way to creating their own distinctive culture -- and perhaps in another world, their own civilization.

As soon as I get home, I am going to download this new tribe and install it. I will probably be devoted to playing them, but of course, I'm probably a bit biased -- I'm a native of the Pacific Northwest myself (West Coast of Vancouver Island).

- Rep.

Yes, I think so too ... there is so much evidence that they were advancing quite rapidly. And they were very wealthy, compared to any other groups for several thousand miles. To my mind this region gets very little play in terms of understanding the precolumbian world - but I think it is fairly correct to put it on par with areas like the Iroquois territories, Mexico and Central America, and Peru. Maybe it wasn't quite as far along as some of these groups, in some respects, but it was ahead of them in others. Plus it's my imagination that civilization tends to sprout in southern, warmer climates and then migrate north to really blossom. If you look in Western Eurasia you see this in how things develop around the Meditteranean but northern and western Europe eventually gained ascendancy, and in the Far East, things started out in India, southern China and Indochina but reached an apogee in Korea and Japan. Another factor in all this, of course, is that all these northern areas had much greater maritime food resources and as technology improved so did the ability to exploit these resources. Same thing would have happened in the Americas I think - the spark was lit in Mesoamerica and the Andes, but I think in time the flame would have burned brightest in the Pacific Northwest and the Eastern area between Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Some people will say that without the horse development would be slower, I think probably not - sedentary groups wouldn't have had to worry hardly at all about nomad groups that proved so devastating at war in Eurasia (from the Assyrians to the Huns to the Mongols).

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I agree with you for the most part Frekk. But I disagree if your saying the Incans and other southern peoples couldn't have formed long lasting empires. Look at Rome for example...and Greece before it.

The Haida were a very advanced tribe. I'd imagine as their population increased, they would have founded more citys. With their maritine culture, and independant nature, I'd imagine the Haida would have been like Ancient Greece, and had separate City-States Ruled by independant chiefs..

 

[frekk]

Well, Rome was eclipsed ... and Italy hasn't been much of a Great Power since then. I don't mean to say that the Mexican and Yucatan cultures wouldn't have formed lasting empires - just as the Sumerians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Phoenicians, the Romans etc did - just that in time, the northern areas would probably eclipse them. I should say, temperate regions.

The Inca (and their Andean predecessors like the Moche) are an anomaly, almost historically paranormal. They defy all the rules - building an empire in the mountains of that size is just the beginning. They developed copper before writing. They may even have had bronze. To say the least that is very, very strange. But there is so much more.

There are all different kinds of entities politically - the Aztecs, for instance, were really a confederacy which controlled a huge number of tribute-paying vassal states through constant military campaigns, but they didn't assimilate the groups they conquered, rather, they imported many of the gods and customs of those people, almost reverse assimilation. The Romans did much the same thing but it was more of a two-way street. However, conquered peoples did more or less retain their cultural identity. In western Eurasia, entities that fully assimilated subject groups didn't really emerge until the late middle ages, and those entities are still with us: France for instance once contained a number of different groups but the language was imposed on them by law and they were eventually fully assimilated by acts of the state. England was once a mixed Danish/Saxon/Norman nation, that after 1066 underwent the same process - but as the British entity, this process was never completed so we still have the Celtic nations there. Similarly, Spain never achieved total cultural hegemony and there are still groups like the Basques. But all of them achieved a sort of critical mass in cultural hegemony which led to them becoming true nation-states and not just fiefs or kingdoms or empires.

Now I'll get to my point about the Inca: they were well on the road to building a nation-state much in the manner of the Europeans. No other New World entity possessed the same kind of state apparatus that the Inca did. Conquered populations were added to the empire wholly - they did not retain their culture whatsoever, it was abolished, their history was forbidden, and Incan settlers moved in to mix with them. Rather than having vassal states, subject populations, or provinces in the manner of Rome, they were in the process of creating a single, massive, uniform ethnicity through a program of total assimilation, an even more comprehensive program than the one which occurred in the nations of western Europe. The formation of a nation-state was occurring with astonishing speed in the Andes before Pizarro arrived. For a culture without writing, this is again, very very strange. There's nothing else like it anywhere in the world.

Then there is another really weird thing about the Inca. They weren't the only ones in the New World, but perhaps the foremost, who understood hydraulic principles. If you ever go to Macchu Picchu, check out the system they had to irrigate crops at the top of a peak. It's impressive. Besides their stonework, the other technical marvel of the Inca was a fully developed textile industry capable of producing goods that are still in high demand and of astounding quality. Their economy was based on it, and it was a large and ambitious manufacturing enterprise in the heyday of the empire. These two things in and of themselves are remarkable but not phenomenal. What's phenomenal is the combination and what it probably would have led to given time. If you know what the "Spinning Jenny" was, and exactly what it led to, you'll know what I mean! I should add, that it's really interesting its inventor was completely illiterate ... meaning literacy did not form a prerequisite for the idea ...

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Fascinating..What would have happened had the Incans developed their own writing system? Would that help or hurt the Incans?

I'd imagine it would have helped them, as it would enable knowledge to be stored, and learned upon. The incan's advancement would have probably sped up even moreso with some form of writing.

Would the Incan's expansion continue you think?

 

[frekk]

Would the Incan's expansion continue you think?

I'm not sure it would have needed writing to do so. It was only in the very early phases of expansion as it was, just at the dawn of a a great era, when Pizarro came along.
I think writing would probably have to make its way to the Inca though - it would probably have diffused that way from the Yucatan. But just on a hunch I'd also say that it would take some time for them to adopt it - for record keeping they already had the quipu strings and I imagine, Inca notions about culture and history being as Orwellian as they were, at first they would have seen writing as a subversive thing and probably the state would act to prevent its spread. Particularly the Mayan form of writing - which focussed around the recording of rulers and history as a means of propaganda and enhancing the legitimacy of native rulers - would have been seen by the Inca as highly undesirable, culturally speaking, as all history except the state history of the Inca was banned in any areas they spread to. The idea of foreigners who could preserve their history through images and physical objects for generations upon generations - well, I can't really think of anything more directly at odds with Inca notions.
It's interesting that when Pizarro and Atahualpa first met, Pizarro's chaplain spoke to the Sapa Inca about Christianity and gave him a Bible. From most descriptions I've read it sounds like Atahualpa wasn't just unimpressed with the concept of writing, he really didn't like the idea at all. He demanded to know why it wouldn't speak to him and then he threw it on the ground, and picturing it in my mind, he was probably quite offended. I imagine any encounter with a literate native American peoples would have gone much the same way, at least at first.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Why did Pizzaro try to befriend Atahualpa when he was just going to kill him anyway? Or was that not his intention?

And why did Pizzaro asume he could read?

 

[jorde]

Why did Pizzaro try to befriend Atahualpa when he was just going to kill him anyway? Or was that not his intention?

Well, either he thought he could convert him and get along with him for some time, or he just didnt want to look suspicious, which would mean he'd be killed by the Inca's people

And the second question.. maybe it seemed obvious to him that such a great civilization would need writing as well...
But what I still dont understand is why they carried along translators with them, since the first Colombus expeditions... and how could they communicated once they realized those translators were just useless with Native Americans? (I assume it's by signs, but it's not that easy to communicate full ideas that way)

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I don't know. Frekk probably could anwser that question.

 

[frekk]

Well, hmmm, this is actually a bit difficult to answer ... first off, Pizarro didn't give him the Bible, his chaplain, Father Valverde (iirc) did. Second, I think the Spaniards were actually quite impressed upon meeting him and at first it probably didn't really enter their minds that he could not read at all and had never seen a book before ... though I'm sure they knew he could not read Latin or Aramaic script.

Nor do I think they really intended in any way to "befriend" him. They were basically looking for some excuse to attack or Pizarro wouldn't have had his cavalry men hidden in ambush. I think they knew if they got their Bible out and started talking about conversion, this powerful and haughty ruler would likely generate some pretext for them. That's a simplified look at it anyway. You have to remember Pizarro (and Cortes too) were basically criminals, bandits, thieves, whatever you'd like to call it. Their actions were not sanctioned by the crown until after the event and particularly in Cortes case went directly against the express wishes of the crown.