Cahokia

Definition

Cahokia was a major pre-Columbian settlement located near modern-day St. Louis, Missouri. It was the largest and most influential urban center of the Mississippian culture, which flourished in the central Mississippi River valley from around 800 CE to 1500 CE.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cahokia was the largest and most sophisticated urban center north of Mexico during the Mississippian period, with a population estimated between 10,000 to 20,000 at its peak.
2. The city was organized around a central ceremonial precinct, which included large earthen mounds, plazas, and wooden structures used for religious and political purposes.
3. Cahokia's economy was based on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of maize, as well as trade networks that spanned the eastern half of North America.
4. The city's social structure was hierarchical, with a centralized political authority and a stratified society of nobles, commoners, and slaves.
5. Cahokia's decline in the late 13th or early 14th century is attributed to a combination of factors, including environmental degradation, social unrest, and the disruption of trade networks.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features and significance of the Cahokia settlement within the context of the Mississippian culture.
  • Cahokia was the largest and most influential urban center of the Mississippian culture, located near modern-day St. Louis, Missouri. It was a highly organized and hierarchical society, with a central ceremonial precinct featuring large earthen mounds, plazas, and wooden structures used for religious and political purposes. Cahokia's economy was based on advanced agriculture, particularly the cultivation of maize, as well as extensive trade networks that spanned the eastern half of North America. The city's size, complexity, and influence made it a unique and influential center of the Mississippian world.
• Analyze the factors that contributed to the rise and eventual decline of the Cahokia settlement.
  • The rise of Cahokia was facilitated by its strategic location, advanced agricultural practices, and the development of complex social and political structures characteristic of the Mississippian culture. Cahokia's centralized authority, hierarchical social organization, and extensive trade networks allowed it to become the largest and most influential urban center north of Mexico during the Mississippian period. However, the eventual decline of Cahokia in the late 13th or early 14th century is attributed to a combination of factors, including environmental degradation, social unrest, and the disruption of trade networks. The complex interplay of these factors ultimately led to the downfall of this once-thriving Mississippian settlement.
• Evaluate the significance of Cahokia's legacy and its impact on the understanding of pre-Columbian North American societies.
  • Cahokia's legacy as the largest and most sophisticated urban center of the Mississippian culture has had a profound impact on our understanding of pre-Columbian North American societies. The site's extensive archaeological record has provided valuable insights into the social, political, and economic organization of these complex, hierarchical societies. The scale and complexity of Cahokia, with its centralized authority, planned urban layout, and extensive trade networks, challenge traditional notions of pre-Columbian North America as consisting solely of small-scale, decentralized societies. Cahokia's significance extends beyond its regional influence, as it demonstrates the capacity of Native American cultures to develop advanced, urban-based civilizations prior to European contact. The study of Cahokia and the Mississippian culture continues to shape our understanding of the diversity and sophistication of pre-Columbian North American societies.

Related terms

Mississippian Culture:

A Native American cultural tradition that developed in the central and southeastern United States, known for its complex social organization, advanced agriculture, and large, planned settlements.

Mound-Building Societies: Cultures in North America that constructed large earthen mounds for religious, political, and ceremonial purposes, a hallmark of the Mississippian tradition.

Chiefdom: A form of social and political organization common in the Mississippian culture, characterized by a centralized authority and a hierarchical social structure.