Ancient South American Civilizations That Vanished Before the Conquistadors
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors, the Andes were home to sophisticated civilizations. The Chavín civilization, which developed around 1000 BC in Peru, was notable for its underground temples and the god Lanzón, but it declined by 200 BC. Following this, the Nazca civilization emerged around 200 BC, renowned for the Nazca lines and human sacrifices, but was devastated by El Niño floods by 500 AD. The Moche culture flourished from 100 to 800 AD under warrior priests at Huaca de la Luna, ultimately succumbing to El Niño and conflicts. The Tiwanaku Empire (550-950 AD), located near Lake Titicaca, influenced the Inca before its collapse around 1000 AD due to drought. The Huari culture (600-1000 AD) constructed extensive road networks but faced decline from drought and uprisings. Meanwhile, Caral-Supe, recognized as the earliest civilization in the Americas, experienced decline by 1800 BC.
Key facts
- The Chavín civilization arose around 1000 BC in modern-day Peru and was the first major unifying culture in the region.
- The Nazca civilization appeared around 200 BC on the southern coast of Peru and created massive geoglyphs known as the Nazca lines.
- The Moche culture flourished from approximately 100 to 800 AD along the northern coast of Peru and was led by warrior priests.
- The Tiwanaku Empire grew to prominence between 550 and 950 AD near Lake Titicaca and had a capital city with over 30,000 residents.
- The Huari (Wari) culture flourished from roughly 600 to 1000 AD and controlled vast swathes of the Peruvian coast and highlands.
- Caral-Supe, the first civilization in the Americas, developed in the 3rd millennium BC and was in decline by 1800 BC.
- The Nazca civilization was destroyed by El Niño floods around 500 AD.
- The Moche civilization fell due to El Niño events and subsequent internal warfare among chiefdoms.
Entities
Artists
- Julio Tello
- Diego Deslo
- Antonio Campoy
Institutions
- The Metropolitan Museum
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The British Museum
- Horniman Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston
- Brooklyn Museum
- Museo Pachacamac
- World Monuments Fund
- Wikimedia Commons
- Flickr
Locations
- Peru
- Chavín de Huántar
- Nazca Valley
- Cahuachi
- Huaca de la Luna
- Huaca del Sol
- Lake Titicaca
- Tiwanaku
- Huari
- Pikillacta
- Pachacamac
- Caral
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Andes Mountains
- Amazonian lowlands