1. Northern People Bibliography:
Bulliet, Richard. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston New York
Monty Armstrong, David Daniel, Abby Kanarek, and Alexandra Freer. The Princeton Review Cracking the AP WORLD HISTORY Exam. Random House, Inc. New York Edition.
Ellie Crystal. Anasazi People <

2. About Northern People
Around 900 B.C.E important cultural centers started to emerge around the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys in modern day United States. There came a development of complex societies because of the influence of Mesoamerica and once established, these characteristics (the introduction of maize, beans, and squash) spread throughout North America. People started to depend on these resources. Irrigation projects were undertaken in the southwestern desert and eastern river valleys thus developed: Southwestern Desert Culture and The Mississippian Culture. (Bulliet, 277) (Princeton, 102)

3. Southwestern Desert Cultures
The Hohokam culture: of the Salt and Gila river valleys of southern Arizona shows strong Mexican influence. It has platform mounds and ball courts that were similar to the ones found in Mesoamerica such as pottery, cast copper bells, etc. In 1000 C.E the Hohokam civilization constructed an irrigation system made of a canal more than 18 miles long. The Anasazi: also showed signs of these desert cultures. Archaeologists use Anasazi to identify the number of desert cultures in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Their economy was based on maize, beans, and squash. The people’s adaptation of these crops allowed them to form larger villages. The Anasazi used kivas (underground builidings) to make pottery, weaving, and religious rituals. (Bulliet, 277 & 278)
Background Picture: Mesa Verde Dwelling Located in southern Colorado, the Anasazi cliff dwellings of the Mesa Verde region hosted a population of about 7,000 in the 1250 C.E. The construction of housing complexes and religious building in the area’s large caves was probably prompted by increased warfare in the region. (David Muench Photography) (Bulliet, 278)

4. The Anasazi Desert Culture (cont…)
One of Anasazi’s largest communities was located in Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico. Its population was approximately 15,000. There were large towns and small towns. Each town contained hundreds of rooms around a central plaza. Social Life and craft activities were concentrated in other small open plazas.. Hunting, trade and irrigation drew the men away from the villages while the women shared in agricultural tasks and were responsible for food and the children. Merchants from the Chaco Canyon provided Toltec-period people of northern Mexico. They exchanged turquoise for shell jewelry, copper bells, macaws, and trumpets. Although there was a lot of trade between the regions there was NO Mesoamerican influence on Chaco Canyon culture.
After the abandonment of the Chaco Canyon the Anasazi remained in the Four Corners region. (Bulliet, 280) (
Background Image: <

5. Mound Builders: The Mississippian Culture
Mound Builders were a main part of Mississippian culture from 700 to C.E. They depended on hunting and gathering. Unlike Anasazi, Mississippian culture was influenced by the contact with Mesoamerica as well as other cultures. Mississippian political organization followed chiefdom tradition: wherever there was a place that had a population greater than 10,000, they would be ruled by a chief. In this culture, chiefs organized “spiritual festivals” to honor the gods (the festivals would bring access to crops and craft goods).
Mississippian culture later adopted the bow and arrow and expanded their trade networks. (Bulliet, 280)
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6. Mississippian Culture: Cahokia
The urban center of Cahokia is located in modern day Illinois. At the center of the site was the largest mound constructed in North America. In C.E Cahokia reached a population of 20,000 people. Cahokia ruled agricultural lands and other towns ruled by sub chiefs. Sea shells, copper, mica, and flint were turned into ritual goods and tools after being introduced into the culture by trade from distant civilizations.
In 1250 C.E Cahokia was assumed to have been abandoned. Historians believe that it was because of military defeat, civil war, population increase, environmental changes, etc. After the fall of Cahokia small Mississippian centered continued to flourish until the Europeans arrived in North America. (Bulliet, 280 & 281)
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7. Quiz
Two cultures developed around 900 B.C.E that were developed from the influence of Mesoamerica on North America were called:
Southwestern desert culture and Mississippian culture
Southeastern desert culture and Mississippian culture
Southwestern desert culture and Missouri culture.
Indus River Valley and Yellow River Valley cultures.
Archeologists used Anasazi to identify the number of desert cultures in all of the following regions except:
Arizona
Colorado
Mississippi
Utah
Mississippian political organization followed chiefdom tradition. Wherever there was a place that had a population greater than ______, they would be ruled by a chief.
100,000
10,000
100 10