Andean civilizations

The Andean civilizations were South American complex societies made up of many indigenous people. They stretched down the spine of the Andes for 4,000 km (2,500 miles) from southern Colombia, to Ecuador and Peru, including the deserts of coastal Peru, to north Chile and northwest Argentina. These societies developed along the narrow coastal plain of the Pacific Ocean.

The Caral or Norte Chico civilization of coastal Peru is the oldest known civilization in the Americas, dating back to 3500 BCE. Andean civilizations are considered one of at least five "pristine" civilizations in the world, meaning they developed independently without influence from other cultures.

Despite the difficult environment of high mountains and dry deserts, these civilizations grew many important crops, such as potatoes, peppers, peanuts, manioc, chocolate, and coca, which are now important around the world. They were known for building large structures, creating a vast road system, and making beautiful textiles.

Not long before the Spanish arrived, the Incas from Cusco brought most Andean cultures together into one large empire. The Timoto Cuica of Venezuela were not part of this empire. Spanish rule later changed many parts of these civilizations, especially their religion and buildings.

History

Main article: History of Andean South America

After the first humans arrived in South America, they spread across the land. The earliest signs of people living in the Andes mountains go back to around 15,000 BCE. During this time, people began to grow plants and form early communities. One of the first big societies was the Caral-Supe civilization, which started around 3500 BCE and lasted until 1800 BCE. Important religious places also appeared, like the Kotosh Religious Tradition in the mountains.

Later, many more advanced societies grew. These included the Chavín culture, which lasted from 900 BCE to 200 BCE, and the Paracas culture, from 800 BCE to 200 BCE. The Nazca culture followed from 200 BCE to 800 CE. Other groups like the Moche civilisation (from 100 to 700 CE), the Wari and Tiwanaku Empires (both from 600 to 1000 CE), and the Chimor (from 900 to 1470 CE) also developed.

Eventually, the Incas became powerful. In 1438, they created a huge empire called Tahuantinsuyu, often known as the Inca Empire. They ruled from their capital city, Cuzco, which began as the Kingdom of Cuzco around 1230.

In the 1500s, Spanish people from Europe arrived and took control of the Andes, making the area part of the Spanish Empire.

Uniqueness

The Andean civilizations grew up on their own, away from other cultures. Because they lived far from others, they had to solve problems in their own ways.

One big difference was that Andean people did not write down words. Instead, they used a special system called the quipu. This was made of knotted and colored strings and helped them keep records and share information. We still don’t fully understand how these strings worked, but they were very important.

People walked everywhere and used llamas to help carry heavy loads. Llamas were not strong enough to pull plows or carry adults, so everything was done by foot or with these animals.

The land where these civilizations lived was very hard to live in. In some places, it was extremely dry, and farming could only happen where water could be brought in. In the mountains, the soil was thin, the weather was cold, and there was very little rain. Even in summer, temperatures could get very cold.

Another special thing about the Andean people was that they did not use money like many other cultures did. Instead, they traded goods and helped each other, sharing what they had. This way of living was common during the time of the Inca Empire, but it started much earlier.

The people of the Andes also had strong beliefs about sacred places, especially places with water, which they thought were connected to their ancestors. They believed in a god named Wiracocha, who they thought created everything. They felt a deep connection to the land where they lived.

Agriculture

Agriculture in South America may have started in coastal Ecuador with people growing squash around 8000 BCE.

The Andes people grew many important plants that we still use today, like maize, potatoes, quinoa, tomatoes, chile peppers, and cotton. They also raised animals such as llamas and guinea pigs.

Because the land was tough to farm, they used clever methods like building terraces (andén) and growing crops at different heights to make sure they had enough food.

Archaeological cultures

See also: Cultural periods of Peru

Caral

Main article: Caral-Supe civilization

The Norte Chico civilization, also called Caral, was an early society with up to 30 big towns in what is now the Norte Chico region of north-central coastal Peru. It is the oldest known civilization in the Americas and one of the world's earliest. It thrived between the 30th century BCE and the 18th century BCE. The name Caral-Supe comes from the Sacred City of Caral in the Supe Valley, a well-known place in Norte Chico. This society developed about 1,000 years after Sumer in Mesopotamia, at the same time as the Egyptian pyramids, and long before the Mesoamerican Olmec.

Valdivia

Main article: Valdivia culture

The Valdivia Culture is one of the oldest known settled cultures in the Americas. It grew from the earlier Las Vegas culture and lived on the Santa Elena peninsula near modern Valdivia, Ecuador, from 3500 BCE to 1800 BCE.

Chavín

Main article: Chavín culture

The Chavín culture was mainly a religious group. It began in the Peruvian highlands and spread across the country. The Chavín are known for their unique art, especially pots shaped like cats. Chavin de Huantar was a key religious center for the Chavín, dating to around 1,500 BCE.

Nazca

Main article: Nazca culture

The Nazca culture lived from 100 to 800 CE along the dry southern coast of Peru in the Rio Grande de Nazca and Ica Valley. Influenced by the earlier Paracas culture, the Nazca created beautiful crafts, including ceramics, textiles, and geoglyphs, famous as the Nazca lines. They also built underground aqueducts, called puquios, that still work today. The area is now Nazca Province in the Ica Region.

Moche

Main article: Moche culture

The Moche civilization lived in northern Peru from about 100 CE to 800 CE. Scholars think the Moche were not one big empire but many smaller groups sharing similar culture. They are famous for their detailed ceramics, beautiful gold work, big buildings (huacas), and irrigation systems. Moche history has three main periods: early (100–300 CE), middle (300–600 CE), and late (500–750 CE).

Chachapoyas

Main article: Chachapoya culture

The Chachapoyas, or 'Cloud People', lived in the cloudy forests of northern Peru. The Incas conquered them before the Spanish arrived. Evidence of them dates back to around 700 CE, with possible settlements as early as 200 BCE. The largest known Chachapoya site is Kuelap, and many mummified burial sites have been found.

Wari

Main articles: Wari culture and Wari Empire

The Wari lived in south-central Andes and coastal Peru from about 500 CE to 1000 CE. Their capital was Wari, near modern Ayacucho. The Wari controlled much of Peru's highlands and coast. Well-preserved sites include the Wari Ruins, Northern Wari ruins near Chiclayo, and Cerro Baul in Moquegua. Other sites include Pikillaqta near Cuzco on the way to Lake Titicaca.

Tiwanaku

Main article: Tiwanaku Empire

Tiwanaku was an important ancient site in western Bolivia. It was a major center for a powerful state for about 500 years and is considered a precursor to the Inca Empire. The ruins are near the south-eastern shore of Lake Titicaca in La Paz Department, Ingavi Province, Tiwanaku Municipality, about 72 km west of La Paz. The site was first written about by Spanish explorer Pedro Cieza de León in 1549. Some think the name Tiwanaku comes from an Aymara word meaning "stone in the center," but the original name may be lost since the people had no written language.

Historical cultures

Chimú

Main article: Chimor

The Chimú lived in Chimor. Their capital was Chan Chan, a big city made of clay. It was in the Moche Valley in today’s Trujillo, Peru. They began around 900 CE. The Inca leader Topa Inca Yupanqui conquered them around 1470 CE.

Aymara kingdoms

Main article: Aymara kingdoms

The Aymara kingdoms were groups of rulers in the high plains. They started around 1151 CE after the end of the Tiwanaku Empire. Later, they joined the Inca Empire in 1477 CE.

Inca Empire

Main article: Inca Empire

The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the Americas before Europeans arrived. It began in the Peruvian mountains in the early 1200s. The Incas ruled a huge area including parts of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. It ended when the Spanish took over in 1572.

Diaguita

Main article: Diaguita

The Diaguita people began around 1000 CE. They fought against the Inca Empire and later the Spanish Empire. They were defeated in 1665.

Muisca

Main article: Muisca Confederation

See also: List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites

The Muisca lived in the highlands of what is now Colombia. They met Spanish soldiers led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in 1537. They had two main groups led by different leaders.

Timoto-Cuica

Main article: Timoto–Cuica people

The Timoto–Cuica people lived in the Andean area of western Venezuela. They included several tribes and grew crops like potatoes. They built villages with houses made of stone and wood. They created art from clay. They are known for creating the arepa, a popular food in Venezuela and Colombia.