History of North America

What roles did the mississippians take?

Mississippian Roles:

- *Kings and Queens (Great Suns)*: Ruled over polities and acted as religious leaders, conducting ceremonies and managing ritual activities.

- *Priests and Priestesses*: Performed religious ceremonies, interpreted the cosmos, and managed temples.

- *Spiritual Warrior Societies*: Warriors tasked with protecting settlements, engaging in warfare, and performing ceremonial dances.

- *Craftspeople*: Artisans skilled in pottery, textile weaving, stone carving, and metalworking, including artisans who crafted intricate copper-based pieces.

- *Merchants and Traders*: Engaged in trade networks, distributing goods and resources within and beyond the Mississippian region.

- *Farmers*: Worked the land, cultivated crops (such as corn, beans, and squash), and engaged in hunting and fishing for sustenance.

- *Laborers*: Involved in construction projects like building earthen mounds, plazas, and other architectural features.

- *Healers*: Known as "medicine men and women," they used traditional knowledge and herbal remedies to treat illnesses.

- *Storytellers and Artists*: Passed down oral histories, creation myths, and cultural traditions through artistic expressions like pottery designs, carvings, and storytelling.