Imagine you are walking through the streets of a city over 800 years ago.

The sun shines brightly over vast fields of golden corn, climbing bean vines, and leafy green squash.

Farmers work together, harvesting food that will feed thousands.

The streets are alive with the sound of voices, footsteps, and the clatter of wooden carts.

People carry baskets brimming with fruits, pottery, and woven goods. Somewhere finely crafted

jewelry made of copper and shells, signs of their status and success in trade.

As you move through the bustling marketplace, you see traders who have traveled great distances

to bring rare and valuable goods. From the Great Lakes, they bring shimmering copper. From the Gulf

of Mexico, they bring delicate seashells.

Stones from the Rocky Mountains glisten in the sunlight,

traded for Cahokia's pottery and tools.

The scent of roasting fish and freshly baked bread drifts through the air,

mingling with the earthy smell of the river nearby.

Everywhere people are trading goods, laughing, and sharing stories of their lands and journeys. In the distance, gigantic mounds rise high above the city.

These massive mounds of earth, built by thousands of workers over generations, show the power

and skill of the Cahokians.

The largest monk's mound is a towering platform where the ruler lives. From atop his grand

wooden home, he watches over the city. The people of Cahokia look to him for guidance,

believing he is chosen by the gods to lead.

This is the heart of the Mississippian Empire, a place of wealth, culture, and incredible human achievement.

Cahokia was the largest city in North America at this time.

It was located near the Mississippi River, making it easy for people

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