WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
The pre-Inca period spans several thousand years before the rise of the Inca Empire in the 15th century. During this time, various civilizations flourished in The Andes
and along the Peruvian coast, leaving behind a rich cultural, architectural, and artistic heritage. The pre-Inca cultures are key to understanding the development of
Andean civilization, as they laid the foundation for the advances that would culminate under the Inca Empire.
One of the earliest major cultures to develop in Peru is the Caral culture, which thrived between 3000 and 1800 BCE in the Supe Valley, about 200 km north of Lima. Caral is often considered the oldest civilization in the Americas, and it is remarkable for its monumental structures, pyramids, and circular plazas. It shows evidence of a complex social organization and extensive trade networks, long before the Incas appeared.
After the Caral culture, many other civilizations emerged, each contributing significant cultural and technological innovations. The Chavín culture (900-200 BCE) is one of the most famous from the pre-Inca period. It emerged in the central Andes and is known for its monumental temples and elaborate religious iconography. The archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar was a major center of this culture, where religious ceremonies and rituals were held to honor their deities.
Later, the Paracas and Nazca civilizations developed along the southern coast of Peru. The Paracas civilization (700-100 BCE) is known for its colorful textiles and complex burial practices, including mummification. Paracas also innovated in agricultural irrigation, allowing its people to survive in a desert environment. The Nazca civilization (100 BCE - 800 CE) followed, and it is famous for the Nazca Lines, vast geoglyphs etched into the desert that continue to intrigue researchers today.
Meanwhile, in the northern region of Peru, the Moche civilization (100-700 CE) flourished along the coastal valleys. The Moche are renowned for their intricate ceramics, royal tombs, and massive adobe pyramids, such as Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna. They also left behind a legacy of mythological stories depicted in their artworks.
The pre-Inca period culminated with the rise of the Wari and Tiwanaku civilizations, which dominated The Andes between 600 and 1000 CE. The Wari Empire, in particular, established a network of roads and administrative centers that would later serve as a model for the Incas. The Wari are often considered the precursors of the Incas due to their ability to unify the diverse Andean cultures under a single political authority.
The pre-Inca period was thus a time of great innovation and cultural development. While the Incas inherited many practices and knowledge from the civilizations that preceded them, each pre-Inca culture contributed to the rich Peruvian heritage and the formation of Andean civilization as we know it today.