Imagine a sprawling city, its grand earthen pyramids looming above the flat floodplain, bustling with thousands of people, and fields of golden corn stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s not in Egypt or Mexico, but right in the heart of what is now Illinois. Centuries before Columbus ever set sail, Cahokia was the largest and most sophisticated city north of Mexico, outshining even London in its heyday. Its story is a tapestry of innovation, mystery, and human ambition—one that challenges everything we think we know about North America’s ancient past.
The Rise of Cahokia: A Prehistoric Powerhouse
Cahokia’s beginnings are as humble as the land it rose…..