Cahokia and the Mississippian Culture

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Cahokia and the Mississippian culture, providing definitions and explanations of significant terms.

Chiefdom

A regional polity organized under a single chief, consisting of multiple local groups with a ranked social hierarchy.

State

A society where power is organized on a supra-kin basis or by a bureaucracy that employs force for population control.

Mississippian period

A cultural period in North America extending from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1600, characterized by complex societies and agricultural practices.

Cahokia

A Precolumbian city and the largest archaeological site north of Mexico, which was a cultural, religious, and economic center.

Woodhenge

A series of circular structures made of cedar posts used for astronomical observations and marking solstices and equinoxes.

Southern Cult/Southeastern Ceremonial Complex

A network of interaction and exchange present in the southeastern U.S. from A.D. 1200 to the early 1500s.

Solstice

Either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, affecting daylight length.

Equinox

The time when day and night are of approximately equal length, occurring around March 21 and September 22.

Mound Center

The seat of the local chiefdom in the Mississippian culture typically consisting of a few mounds.

Population estimate of Cahokia

Estimated to be around 20,000 +/- 5,000 at its peak.