Before the rise of the Inca Empire, several ancient civilizations existed in the land now known as Peru. The Caral civilization, one of the oldest in the Americas, emerged around 2600 BCE in the Supe Valley without the use of metal tools or pottery. The Chavín culture, known for their artwork and religious practices, arose around 900 BCE. The Nazca Lines, famous for their geoglyphs, were created by the Nazca culture, which flourished from 100 BCE to 800 CE. The Moche civilization left behind detailed records of their society, which thrived on the northern coast of Peru from 100 to 700 CE. The Wari and Tiwanaku cultures expanded their territories before the Inca, with the Wari centered in the Ayacucho region and the Tiwanaku in modern-day Bolivia. The Inca emerged from the Cusco Valley and began to gain power around the 12th century AD. The Inca's notable achievements included creating an extensive road system and establishing a vast empire that drew from the contributions of previous civilizations in terms of agriculture, architecture, and social organization.
The contributions of these civilizations paved the way for the Inca's rise to power in various ways. The technological advancements of the Caral civilization demonstrated the potential for large-scale construction projects without the use of metal tools, which the Inca later utilized in their own architectural endeavors. The artistic and religious practices of the Chavín culture influenced the Inca's development of their own religious beliefs and ceremonies. The intricate irrigation systems and agricultural knowledge of the Nazca and Moche civilizations provided the Inca with valuable information on how to maximize food production in their mountainous terrain. Additionally, the organizational skills and political structures of the Wari and Tiwanaku cultures set a precedent for the Inca's imperial rule. Overall, the Inca built upon the innovations and achievements of their predecessors to establish one of the largest and most powerful empires in pre-Columbian America.
Pre-Inca Peru Reading Questions
Read the web page below and answer the following questions:
Before the Inca: The civilizations of ancient Peru - History Skills
Before the rise of the Inca Empire, how many ancient civilizations existed in the land now known as Peru?
How old is the Caral civilization?
Where did the Caral civilization emerge?
What did the Caral people construct without using metal tools or pottery?
Which civilization is best remembered for their artwork and religious practices?
When did the Chavín culture arise?
For what are the Nazca Lines famous?
When did the Nazca culture flourish?
Which civilization thrived on the northern coast of Peru from 100 to 700 CE?
What detailed records did the Moche civilization leave behind?
Which two major empires dominated the Andes before the Inca?
When did the Wari and Tiwanaku cultures expand their territories?
Where were the centers of power for the Wari and Tiwanaku cultures respectively?
From which region did the Inca emerge?
When did the Inca begin to emerge as a power?
What did the Inca create that made them notable in pre-Columbian America?
What did the Inca draw from to establish their empire?
Paragraph Writing
Based upon what you learnt in your reading, answer the following question in paragraph format (Topic Sentence, Explanation, Evidence, Concluding Sentence):
How did the contributions of these civilizations pave the way for the Inca's rise to power?
1 answer