North America. In present-day East St. Louis, the city of Cahokia flourishes, the capital of a sort of Native American grain-growing state. It reaches a peak population of 15,000 before suddenly fading into oblivion in 1350. To the south, still along the Mississippi, other similar kingdoms emerge, which will similarly crumble. This scenario is called “Mississippian culture” and views the self-conscious ability to engage in political and organizational debate as one of the highest human values, along with a love of individual freedom and skeptical rationalism.
