World Systems Theory, Core Periphery Interactions and Elite Economic Exchange in Mississippian Societies

Abstract

World Systems Theory has been one approach used to explain the rise of the Mississippian social and political phenomenon. In this paper it is argued that a hierarchical model of core-periphery interaction does not explain the Cahokianphenomenon, because several crucial clements of such a model cannot be demonstrated to have existed within the Mississippian system. It is suggested that looking at Mississippian society as a differential core-peripheral system may have utility as a framework for including concepts such as gateway communities and interaction spheres previously used to describe the economic interactions between Cahokia and its neighbors.