This resource focuses on ancient civilizations, specifically examining the concepts of sovereignty and governance structures. Students will learn about how different groups, such as the Mesoamerican Aztecs and Mississippian Cahokia, demonstrated their power and control. The resource includes a word bank defining key terms like sovereignty, hierarchy, trade, and urban centers, and it engages students with prompts for reflection on the meanings of rulership and the observations of power through architecture and urban planning. Additionally, students will analyze expansion and trade patterns, compare similarities and differences between the two civilizations, and reflect on how these aspects showcase their sovereignty. A challenge task encourages learners to draw modern analogies to better understand these ancient systems.