Cahokia

Definition

Cahokia was a pre-Columbian Native American city located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri, and is known as one of the most significant urban centers in ancient North America. Established around 600 CE, it became the largest city in the Mississippian culture, showcasing advanced social organization, monumental architecture, and extensive trade networks. The site is characterized by its impressive earthen mounds, particularly Monks Mound, which reflects the city's spiritual and political significance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. At its peak around 1150 CE, Cahokia had an estimated population of 20,000 to 40,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world at that time.
2. Cahokia's society was highly stratified, featuring a chiefdom system where leaders had significant control over resources and labor.
3. The city covered approximately six square miles and included over 120 mounds used for different purposes such as burial, ceremony, and habitation.
4. Cahokia's location along major rivers facilitated trade and cultural exchange with other regions, connecting it to a vast network of indigenous peoples.
5. The decline of Cahokia began around 1300 CE due to factors like environmental changes, resource depletion, and social upheaval, leading to its eventual abandonment.

Review Questions

• How did the geographical location of Cahokia influence its development as a major urban center in ancient North America?
  • Cahokia's strategic location near the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers played a crucial role in its development. This positioning facilitated trade routes that connected Cahokia with other indigenous communities across North America. The river access also provided essential resources such as water and fertile land for agriculture, enabling a large population to thrive in this urban center.
• Discuss the significance of monumental architecture at Cahokia and what it reveals about the society that built it.
  • The monumental architecture at Cahokia, particularly Monks Mound and other earthen structures, showcases the city's social complexity and cultural values. These mounds served not only as physical landmarks but also as symbols of power and spirituality within the community. The effort involved in their construction indicates a high level of social organization, labor specialization, and communal effort, reflecting the city's status as a political and religious hub.
• Evaluate the factors that led to the decline of Cahokia and how this decline reflects broader trends in Mississippian culture during that period.
  • The decline of Cahokia can be attributed to several interrelated factors including environmental degradation from intensive agriculture, social conflicts arising from resource competition, and shifts in climate that impacted food production. This decline is reflective of broader trends within Mississippian culture, where similar urban centers experienced similar challenges. As these societies faced pressures from within and outside their communities, many saw a reduction in population and eventual abandonment, indicating a significant transformation in indigenous social structures during this period.

Related terms

Mississippian Culture: A mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE, known for its complex societies and large urban centers like Cahokia.

Monks Mound: The largest earthen mound at Cahokia, standing about 100 feet tall, serving as a ceremonial and political center and symbolizing the city's power and religious significance.

Mound Builders: Various Native American cultures that constructed various types of mounds for ceremonial, burial, and residential purposes across North America, particularly associated with the Mississippian culture.