Cahokia De Soto Expedition

Cahokia was a major Native American city near present-day St. Louis, thriving around 600 to 1400 CE, known for its large earthen mounds and complex society. The De Soto Expedition, led by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in the 1530s, aimed to explore the southeastern United States and search for gold. De Soto and his men encountered various Indigenous tribes, including those from Cahokia. Their arrival marked significant cultural exchanges but also led to violence and disease, greatly impacting Indigenous populations and reshaping the region's history. Cahokia represents a rich legacy of pre-Columbian achievement before European contact.