Final answer:
The major reason for the cultural shift in the Mississippian tradition was the use of human sacrifice. Human sacrifice played a significant role in the religious and political life of the Mississippian people, serving as a means of appeasing the gods, asserting authority, and maintaining social order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major reason for the cultural shift in the Mississippian tradition was the use of human sacrifice. Human sacrifice played a significant role in the religious and political life of the Mississippian people. It was seen as a way to appease the gods, maintain social order, and assert authority.
Human sacrifice was also associated with the belief in an afterlife and the idea of a cyclical cosmos. Sacrifices were performed during important ceremonies and rituals, such as the construction of earthen mounds, and were believed to ensure fertility, prosperity, and protection for the community.
Furthermore, human sacrifice served as a means of social control and intimidation, asserting the power and authority of the ruling elite. It reinforced hierarchical structures and symbolized the immense power wielded by rulers and religious leaders.