7.2 The Mississippian People And Their Influence

The Mississippian people and their influence slowly spread across much of eastern North America. Much of this movement may have been caused by their search for fertile soils in which to grow their crops. In the process, the Mississippian people or their lifestyle came into contact with the Woodland cultures. The result was often a blending of "old" and "new" cultures.

What happened to the Mississippian cultures is not clear, but there was a decline or disruption of their lifestyle beginning as early as A.D. 1350 in some places. While more research is needed to solve this mystery, most archaeologists agree that changes in the Mississippian culture were not caused by contacts with Europeans. The Creeks, Cherokee, and Natchez Indians of the historic period show many traits of Mississippian culture. Still, details of the relationships between these historic groups and the Mississippian culture are vague.

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