Final answer:
Historians believe that the earthworks of the Mound Builders in North America may have been influenced by Mesoamerican cultures due to similarities in mound construction, the sharing of motifs like the serpent, and evidence of trade networks connecting these regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historians believe that the earthworks built by the Mound Builders in central and eastern North America may have been influenced by the cultures of Mexico and Central America due to several factors. The Mississippian culture, known for creating large urban settlements and monumental earth mounds, shows similarities to Mesoamerican civilizations through their construction of large mounds used for religious, political, and elite burials.
Moreover, artifacts and architectural styles suggest a flow of ideas and practices through trade or other forms of contact, demonstrating that these regions were not isolated from one another and often interacted. Evidence from sites such as Cahokia indicates a connection to Mesoamerica, with shared themes such as the serpent motif and cultural practices. The importance of trade networks is noted in the archaeological record, showing that the Mound Builders had access to items and influences from distant lands, including those of Mesoamerican peoples.