IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

A. Cultural Response to Environmental Challenge

1. Geography• Andes Mountains - High altitudes- frosts• Arid climate of the coast- Little rainfall• Hot & humid jungles of the

Amazon

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

2. Technology• Accurate calendar- Time planting and harvest of crops• Domestication of frost resistant potatoes and grains• Terraced hillsides• Freeze-drying • Domestication of the llama and alpaca - Meat- Wool- Long distance transportation

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

3. Record Keeping• No system of writing • Khipus or quipus - A system of knotted colored cords- Used for administration: to record population

counts, tribute obligations, etc

Warm Up:

What geographic challenges did Andean civilization face?

Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

4. Labor Structure• Family• The clan, or ayllu (aye-You)- Held land communally- Clan members obligated to assist each other

in common labor• Ayllu provided labor and goods to chief

Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

5. Mit’a• Each ayllu contributed a set number of workers for

specific tasks each year- Rotational labor draft• Members of ayllu work the fields, care for llama and

alpaca herds- Owned by religious establishment, courts, aristocracy• Built and maintained roads, bridges, temples and large

irrigation and drainage projects• Produced textiles and essential goods

Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

6. Gender roles• Work divided along gender lines• Men- Hunting, military service, government• Women- textile production, agriculture, and

the home

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

B. Moche1. Identity• North coastal region of Peru in about 600 C.E. • No formal empire of unified government• Identity based on culture

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

2. Agriculture• mit’a labor system • extensive irrigated agriculture - produced maize, quinoa, beans, sweet

potatoes and manioc• Alpaca and llama herds- Transportation, wool for textiles, meat.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

3. Moche Society• Stratified and theocratic. • Wealth and power were concentrated in the

hands of an elite - priests and military leaders who lived atop

large platforms- decorated themselves with magnificent

clothing,- jewelry, and tall headdresses.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

3. Continued• Commoners cultivated their fields• supplied mit’a labor to the elite.• Moche artisans were skilled in the production of

textiles, ceramics, and metallurgy. - Gold and silver were used for decorative

purposes, - copper and copper alloy for farm tools and

weapons.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

4. Decline• may be attributed to a series of natural

disasters in the sixth century • and to pressure from the warlike Wari people

in the eighth century.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

C. Tiwanaku and Wari1. Tiwanaku Civilization• Centered in modern Bolivia• High elevation (13,000 ft)• experienced increased

agricultural productivity and urbanization in the years following 200 C.E.

• cultivated potatoes and grains on raised fields reclaimed from marshland.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

2. Urbanization• urban construction included

a large terraced pyramid, walled enclosures, and a reservoir.

• Construction was done with large stones

- quarried, moved, and laid by thousands of laborers

- working with simple technology and copper alloy tools.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

3. Tiwanaku Society• highly stratified, ruled by a hereditary elite, • included specialized artisans. • Not a large city• Political and ceremonial center.

IV. Andean Civilizations, 600-1500

4. The Wari • was located near the city of Ayucucho, Peru.• Wari had contact with Tiwanaku but was a

separate culture; • the city being built without central planning,• with different techniques, • and on a much smaller scale than Tiwanaku. • Both Tiwanaku and Wari declined to

insignificance by 1000 C.E.