### q3 Mississippians abandoned ineffective leaders > Mississippian complexes were maintained by powerful elites, who would be deposed if they were unable to perform their duty to maintain order in a chaotic world. > > The legitimacy of the chief depended on their ability to provide for commoners, and their ability to maintain control in a volatile world. If a chief was unable to protect their people, or even themselves, they lost legitimacy and the mound complex would be abandoned. Scholars believe the cyclic pattern of complexes rising and falling indicate those dynasties that rose to power, but were unable to maintain their position, either through warfare or environmental insults like drought or famine. This thing about the mound being abandoned has fascinating implications for a science fiction arcoloy story. I also feel like this is probably how some nomadic bands worked — if a chief was bad you might just quietly split off and "emigrate" somewhere else. Kind of reminds me of [[motivations for colonization in the ancient world]]. - [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01fgy1jrdxsr157v761j0fjt8k) - [[Mississippian Culture#q3 Mississippians abandoned ineffective leaders|View in Vault]]