History of Illinois
The history of Illinois may be defined by several broad historical periods, namely, the pre-Columbian period, the era of European exploration and colonization, its development as part of the American frontier, its early statehood period, growth in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the contemporary Illinois of today. == Pre-Columbian era == Cahokia, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois.