Mississippian Culture

The Mississippian Culture, thriving from around 800 AD to 1600 AD in the southeastern United States, was characterized by advanced agrarian societies. They built large, earthen mounds for ceremonial and political purposes, and established complex, urban centers like Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis. The Mississippians grew crops such as maize, beans, and squash, enabling population growth and trade networks. Their society was stratified, with a ruling elite and a diverse population. The culture's decline in the 16th century was influenced by environmental factors and European contact, leading to significant changes in the region's social and political landscape.