Andean Cultures of South America

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Andean Cultures of South America

• 6.2

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• Map of the Chavin Civilization

• Ruins of a Chavin Temple

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Cultures Develop in the Andes

• The Chavin
• was the 1st known culture to develop in South
  America. The civilizations name comes from the
  area where the cultures ruins were found.
• Around 900 B.C. the culture built a large
  temple complex.
• Their political structure is unknown, but their
  arts and religion influenced later Peruvian
  peoples. Their religion may have united the
  peoples of Northern and Central Peru.

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• Map of the Moche Civilization

• Moche Wooden Carving

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Cultures Develop in the Andes

• The Moche
• 100-700 A.D. the Moche created an empire in
  Northern Peru. The civilization is named after
  their most famous city.
• Farmers perfected the use of fertilizers and
  canals to grow crops in their arid climate.
• Relay runners were used to carry messages. The
  Inca later adopted this idea.
• Built the largest adobe structure in the
  Americas. Adobe is a clay and stray mixture that
  hardens in the sun.
• Perfected weaving textiles, gold working, and
  woodcarving.

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Cultures of the Southern Andes

• The Nazca
• Originated on the southern coast of Peru.
• Created geoglyphs on the desert floor. These
  geoglyphs were made by clearing away rocks and
  soil. Some lines run straight for miles, while
  others depict animals. The geoglyphs may have
  been part of their religious beliefs.
• The cities of Huari and Tiahuanaco
• Huari controlled Perus mountain and coastal
  regions.
• Tiahuanaco was a major city located on Lake
  Titicaca. It ruled lands in modern day Argentina,
  Chile, and Peru.
• These two cities may have had religious or
  economic ties to one another.

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• The Inca Empire

• Sapa Inca

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The Inca Empire

• The Inca were the most powerful of the Andean
  peoples.
• Their civilization began in the 1100s, but
  expanded to its max size after 1438 when
  Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui became emperor, or Sapa
  Inca.
• Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui
• Skilled warrior who conquered enemies and
  enlisted them in his armies.
• The Incan Empire stretched along the Andes
  Mountains for 2500 miles with Cuzco as the
  capital.

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Sapa Inca as an Absolute Ruler

• Sapa Inca declared himself to be the son of the
  sun god Inti.
• Gold served as his symbol and was thought to be
  the sweat of the sun.
• He was also the religious leader.
• All property was owned by the emperor, they did
  not trade with other empires, citizens worked on
  public works projects.
• Nobles ran provinces, officials handled daily
  business, officials kept records on knotted ropes
  called quipu.

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Quipu
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Living Under Inca Rule

• All conquered peoples had to speak the Inca
  language and practice the Inca religion.
• Each village, or ayllu, had a leader who
  organized work assigned by the government.
• Farmers used terraces to farm the steep hillsides
  of the Andes. Farmers spent half the year farming
  for their village and the other half working the
  emperors lands.