Chapter 1, Student Web Activities, The American Republic Since 1877, Glencoe, 2003

Social Studies, The American Republic Since 1877

Chapter 1: Converging Cultures, Prehistory to 1620
"Ancient Architects of the Mississippi"

Introduction
As you learned in this chapter, Native Americans established organized societies centuries before European explorers landed in North America. In the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, Native Americans built enormous complexes of earthen mounds where they worked as farmers, sophisticated traders, and skilled metalworkers. These busy cities flourished along the Mississippi and its tributaries for hundreds of years. However, by the time Spanish explorer De Soto sailed the Mississippi in 1541, the mound cities were deserted, overgrown, and silent. Today few of the thousands of mounds built in the Mississippi Delta remain. Log on to this Web site to discover what archaeologists have learned about the ancient Mississippian culture.

Destination Title: Ancient Architects of the Mississippi

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips.

Directions
Start at the Ancient Architects of the Mississippi Web site.

Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.

Read through the information, and then answer the following questions.

1. What have archaeologists discovered about the ancient Mississippian cities?

2. What were the main trade goods among the Mississippians?

3. What are some of the theories given for the demise of the culture?

4. Why are so few ancient mounds left?

5. This Web site links to several mound sites designated as national and state parks. Select one of the parks and imagine you are a park volunteer. Prepare a brief oral presentation that introduces your site to visitors of the park and provides them with background information about the ancient Mississippians.