Mississippian Political Economy

Book excerpt: This ambitious work offers a coherent and comprehensive look at the material conditions underlying and stimulating political development in southeastern North America during the Mississippian period. After introducing theoretical issues, Muller addresses reproduction, production, distribution, and consumption within their social and material contexts. Examined through the lens of the production, distribution, and consumption of prestige and staple goods, a profoundly domestic, though significantly differentiated, Mississippian political economy emerges. This study's broad synthetic view ensures that neither environment nor ideology are overemphasized. A fine statement of an important theoretical position, the volume features considerable graphic and tabular presentation of data.