Mississippian Culture at Cahokia

​Mississippian Culture at Cahokia
📍 An early Native American city in North America

By Cory Rayhill

Multiple Choice

Name that continent!

• Europe

• Africa

• North America

• Asia

Multiple Choice

Name that region!

• Midwest

• Southeast

• Northeast

Multiple Choice

Name that river!

• Hudson River

• Ohio River

• Mississippi River

• Large Native American city built by Mississippian people

• Located in Illinois, near today’s St. Louis, Missouri

• Thrived from about 700–1350 CE

• One of the biggest cities in North America at the time

​

​Meet Cahokia

Multiple Choice

Where is Cahokia located today?

• California

• Illinois

• Ohio

• Cahokia had about 120 earthen mounds

• Used for homes, ceremonies, and leaders

• Today, about 70 mounds remain

• A large plaza was in the center of the city

​

​A City of Mounds

Multiple Choice

What did Mississippians build at Cahokia?

• Stone Castles

• Giant Mounds

• Igloos

• Largest mound at Cahokia

• About 100 feet tall and covers 14 acres

• Biggest prehistoric earthen structure in North America

• Likely held a temple or leader’s house on top

​

Monks Mound

Multiple Choice

What is Monks Mound?

• Wooden Fort

• The largest mound at Cahokia

• Cave

• People lived in wooden houses

• Farmed corn, beans, and squash

• Built a wooden wall (palisade) for protection

• Organized into neighborhoods around plazas

​

Daily Life

• Cahokia was a major trade center

• Traded copper (Great Lakes), shells (Gulf/Atlantic), mica (Appalachians)

• Made special pottery for everyday use and ceremonies

• Shared goods and ideas with faraway places

​

Trade and Artifacts

Multiple Choice

Why was Cahokia an important trade center?

• People traded copper, shells, and mica with faraway places

• People used gold coins for money

• People built stone castles for leaders

• After 1200s, Cahokia began to decline

• Possible causes: environmental stress, resource use, climate changes, conflict

• By 1350, most people had left the city

​

Change Over Time

Open Ended

Why do you think Mississippian culture decided to leave Cahokia?