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Illinois's climate was slightly warmer between 1,100 and 550 years ago when compared to today, but some scientists believe it became much cooler near the end of the Mississippian Period. A cooler climate resulting in a shorter growing season may have been one of the factors that helped bring Mississippian culture to an end in Illinois. Large communities of Mississippian people also affected the landscape where they lived. The demand for food and firewood alone may have substantially changed the local environment and placed new demands on Mississippian people. But like the previous Woodland Period, changes in Mississippian society-religion, politics, and conflict-may have posed the greatest challenge to Native Americans.
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