America's forgotten metropolis of Cahokia

Chapter 1

The rise of a hidden metropolis

Chapter 2

Engineering with earth

Chapter 3

Daily life and cosmic games

Chapter 4

The mysterious decline and legacy

Ch 1 · The rise of a hidden metropolis

Glossary

common era (noun)
A modern, secular system for numbering calendar years that matches the traditional AD timeline. It is used by historians as a neutral, globally shared way to track time. For instance, Cahokia's rapid growth around 1050 CE shows that this massive North American metropolis was bustling at the exact same time medieval London was developing in Europe.

Cahokia's Monks Mound covers a larger area than Mexico's taller Pyramid of the Sun.

sonia Diagrams compare the sizes of Monks Mound and the Pyramid of the Sun.

sonia A city larger than London

Quiz

Where is the ancient archaeological site of Cahokia located?

Quiz

Which major river system was most crucial for Cahokia's transport, agriculture, and trade?

Mound Town

BETA

sonia Stack giant earthen mounds to discover how the massive ancient city of Cahokia was built.

sonia The vast Mississippian trade network

The vast Mississippian trade network

sonia Cahokia was the heart of a massive trade network stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

Quiz

Around what year did the ancient city of Cahokia reach its peak population?

Quiz

From which distant region did Cahokians obtain the ceremonial marine shells found at the site?

sonia The Metropolis of Cahokia

Under the sky and the midwestern sun, An earthen pyramid outgrew the Giza one.

sonia The grand plaza at city center

The grand plaza at city center

sonia At the center of Cahokia lay a perfectly leveled, 50-acre grand plaza used for public rituals and community games.

Quiz

Why is this ancient Mississippian city called 'Cahokia' today?

Quiz

What material was primarily used to build Cahokia's massive two-mile-long defensive palisade wall?

Fun Fact

Name origins: The city's original name is lost; 'Cahokia' comes from an Illinois tribe that lived nearby centuries after the city was abandoned.

sonia The massive wooden defensive palisade

Quiz

How did Cahokia's peak population compare to London, England, during the 12th century?

Quiz

How large was the central Grand Plaza of Cahokia, which was manually leveled by its builders?

Glossary

mound (noun)
An artificial hill or bank of earth or stone. The colossal Monks Mound near St. Louis served as the central earthen pyramid of Cahokia.

Gossip

Which ancient trade item would you value most?