Developments in the Americas: The Mississippian Culture

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, social structures, and geographical context of early American civilizations and the Mississippian culture.

Mississippian culture

The first large-scale civilization in North America, emerging in the 700s or 800s in the Mississippi River Valley and known for building monumental earthen mounds.

Cahokia

The largest earthen mound of the Mississippian culture, located in southern Illinois, standing up to 100 feet tall and covering an area as large as 12 football fields.

Great Sun

The chief who ruled each large town in the rigid class structure of Mississippian society.

Matrilineal society

A society in which social standing is determined by the woman's side of the family, as demonstrated when the Great Sun's title passed to his sister's son rather than his own son.

Enslaved people (Mississippian society)

The group positioned at the bottom of the Mississippian social structure, typically made up of prisoners of war.

Olmecs

An early civilization in Mesoamerica whose decline was followed by the emergence of new civilizations such as the Mayans and Aztecs.

Chavin

An early civilization in the Andes whose decline was followed by the rise of new civilizations like the Incas.