what are two theories on why the cities of the mound builders such as cahokia disappeared

The decline and disappearance of the cities built by the Mound Builders, such as Cahokia, are complex historical phenomena, and scholars have proposed various theories to explain these events. Two prominent theories include:

1. Environmental Factors:

• Climate Change: Some theories suggest that changes in climate, including prolonged periods of drought or other adverse environmental conditions, may have contributed to the decline of the Mound Builder civilizations. Shifts in climate patterns could have affected agriculture and resource availability, leading to food shortages and societal stress.
• Soil Degradation: Intensive agriculture practices, including deforestation and the use of the fertile floodplains, might have led to soil degradation over time. This could have impacted agricultural productivity and contributed to societal decline.

2. Sociopolitical Factors:

• Internal Conflicts and Warfare: Internal conflicts, social unrest, or warfare among different Mound Builder communities could have played a role in the decline. Competition for resources, power struggles, or other internal tensions might have led to the abandonment of certain cities or regions.
• Social Complexity and Political Instability: The Mound Builder societies, particularly at their peak, exhibited complex social structures and hierarchical organization. Some theories posit that managing such complex societies might have led to political instability and internal challenges that contributed to the decline.

It's important to note that these theories are not mutually exclusive, and a combination of environmental and sociopolitical factors likely played a role in the decline of Mound Builder civilizations. Additionally, the exact reasons for the decline may vary among different Mound Builder sites and regions. The disappearance of these civilizations is still a subject of ongoing archaeological research and investigation.