Who Was When

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Moche culture

South AmericaHeartland today: Peru

Before and after

  • In the north coast of Peru:Came after: Chimú culture

    The Lambayeque (Sicán) culture also rose on this coast as the Moche faded; the Chimú later conquered it.

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Meanwhile…

A cluster of related lords ruling northern Peru's coastal valleys, who raised the largest adobe pyramid in Peru and painted their ceramics with scenes of hunting, sacrifice and daily life.

Also alive at the same time

Key events

  1. Early Moche polities emerge on Peru's north coast, following the earlier Salinar and Cupisnique traditions

    Sources

  2. Builders raise the Huaca del Sol on the Moche river, the largest adobe-brick structure in ancient Peru

    Sources

  3. Moche engineers expand river-fed irrigation canals to farm the coastal desert valleys

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  4. Moche lords stage ritual combat between warriors, ending in the sacrifice of the defeated

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  5. Severe El Niño flooding and drought strike the Moche valleys, straining Southern Moche citiesDisputed

    Scholars debate how much climate stress, versus internal conflict, drove Moche decline.

    Sources

  6. – Moche cities are abandoned or reorganised as new coastal powers, including the later Chimú, take shape

    Sources