Cahokia : Mirror of the Cosmos

Rating:
Summary: ancient american city
Review: This is a stunning book, in every way: lavishly illustrated and a gorgeous, full-color design. Sally Chappell, who writes for the Travel Section of the New York Times, tells a fascinationg story of a sophisticated ancient culture and empire that thrived along the Mississippi valley between 1100 and 1500, at the same time that the Aztecs were coming into power in Meso-America and the Incas in South America. Cahokia was the major city of this empire, and in 1200 its population exceeded that of London in Europe. Chappell tells the story of this historic site near St. Louis, with its fabulous monumental architecture, relgious traditions, and trading networks. But Chappell takes it well beyond the story of the Native Americans. She explores how the site evolved over time, was influenced by French explorers, was used during the Civil War, and what became of the site in the 20th century. An amazing story of both a place and "place."