Mississippian Indians and European Interests in North America

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Who were the Mississippian Indians?

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The Mississippian Indians inhabited Georgia from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE. They were an agricultural society that lived in permanent villages and towns, usually located near rivers.

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What is the Mississippian culture known for?

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The Mississippian culture is known for building mounds used for religious ceremonies, social activities, or cemeteries.

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How was the Mississippian society organized?

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The Mississippian society was organized into a hierarchical society centered around chiefdoms, ruled by a priest-chief who supervised both political and religious affairs.

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What were the two classes in Mississippian society?

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The two classes were the elites and commoners. The priest-chiefs and their families formed the elite class, while commoners grew food, made crafts, and served as warriors and laborers.

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What were the features of Mississippian settlements?

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Mississippian settlements included a central plaza, an area for homes, and defensive structures. They built small wattle-and-daub huts and often constructed a wooden palisade for protection.

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What did the Mississippian Indians hunt and grow?

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They hunted wild game, caught fish, gathered shellfish, and grew vegetables like corn, beans, and squash.

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What tools did the Mississippian Indians use?

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They improved on stone tools used by their ancestors and used bows and knives carved out of chert.

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What was the impact of Hernando de Soto's arrival?

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Hernando de Soto's arrival in the mid-1500s brought diseases to the Indians, leading to the emergence of the Creek and Cherokee tribes.

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What were the Spanish interests in the New World?

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Spanish interests included finding gold, gaining glory through empire expansion, and converting non-Christians to Christianity.

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What were the British interests in the New World?

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British interests included gaining power and glory, practicing mercantilism, providing opportunities for the poor, and seeking religious freedom.