Pre-Columbian Peru

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The Pre-Columbian Peru , with its dry Pacific coast, the moist, warm areas of the Amazon rainforest and the high snow-covered peaks of the Andes offered his to m 2500-3500 extending Sierra favorable agricultural conditions (even climate, fertile soil) and so favored the colonization of the Andean region. The same applied to the Altiplano , a steppe-like area with no drainage between 3,000 and 4,500 m with Lake Titicaca . It is unknown when the first people immigrated to South America. Some researchers believe that the Andean region was settled across the Isthmus of Panama .

background

Archaeological artefacts from the pre-Columbian times of Peru were discovered in the Andes region in particular, including golden royal masks. There are also some remarkable knotted cords, the so-called quipus , which were used by the Inca as an aid for the administration of their empire, as they did not know any characters.

The areas of today's Peru were settled by the first nomadic tribes about 20,000 years ago. Numerous traces of settlement by these Stone Age residents who lived there as hunters and gatherers have been discovered. From them, for example, excavation finds in Chivateros or rock paintings in the caves of Lauricocha , the cave of Toquepala, in which the probably oldest paintings in Latin America were found, or the finds at Huaca Prieta .

Pre-ceramic era

Some of these early settlers developed into primitive farming cultures , from which the advanced Peruvian cultures with their imposing buildings later emerged. They may have been influenced by cultures from other continents or areas. For example, some ceramics from Valdivia show an astonishing resemblance to the Japanese Jomon culture . The experiment of the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl , who sailed to the Polynesian islands in the South Pacific on the Kon-Tiki , a replica of an old Peruvian raft , showed that such a cultural exchange was possible . In doing so, he relied on a traditional legend, in which it was described how the Inca chief Túpac Yupanqui undertook a long journey across the open sea and returned safely. The Andean inhabitants hardly kept any animals (mainly guinea pigs, llama and dogs), but grew plenty of vegetables: potatoes , peanuts , chilli …. The cotton mill also allowed simple artistic activity. The first sacred buildings were probably erected at this time . Grave goods made from non-native stone or from Ecuadorian shells also suggest an exchange with foreign cultures. The first advanced civilizations seem to have existed as early as this epoch, as the discoveries in Caral indicate.

Ceramic era

The ceramic epoch (1800–900) began with the invention of ceramics. Irrigation technology was introduced to make the dry areas of the Andean region usable. Clay is used for the first time to produce simple art objects. Large temple complexes surrounded by houses were built on the coast, ruled by priests and supported by warriors. The Moche people are particularly known for the large number of ceramic finds. One speaks therefore of the Moche culture as a mass producer of ceramic goods. They made many similar vessels in the process, although they were not familiar with the potter's wheel. The Nazca also left ornate ceramics next to the large scratches .

Early horizon

In the pre-Columbian period, epochs where a high civilization united several peoples are called horizons . The early horizon (900–300) began with the rise of the Chavin culture or with the fall of the coastal cultures. The decisive cultural factor of this time was the ability to work metal. This time is considered to be the origin of the Peruvian culture. Where the Chavin people came from and how they spread is unknown. They built large temples, the size of which was only reached again in the Inca period. The temple sites were abandoned around 300 due to circumstances that have not yet been clarified; the religious ideas lived on even after the fall of the Chavin culture. Typical of the Chavin culture is the Cupisnique style, a combination of bas-reliefs and incisions, mostly in black tone.

Early interim

In the early interim (300 BC to 600 AD), after the collapse of the Chavin, Peru disintegrated into small states, some of which survived the entire epoch and others that disintegrated again after a short time (“ Regionalism"). This period saw a decline in architecture. Typical is the Vicus style , where animals or people are depicted in three dimensions on ceramic bottles and pots. The first sun and moon pyramids were erected.

Middle horizon

With the unification in the middle horizon (600-1000), the Huari and the Tiahuanaco cultures emerged. The first cities, equipped with a checkered street pattern and surrounded by defensive walls, emerged. The Tiahuanacos spread peacefully. They established a divine state held together by their common religion. The warlike Huaris, however, forced their art and religion on the conquered regions.

A creator god has been worshiped since that time . Painted clay pots decorated with bas-reliefs are typical of the Huari style. How these cultures communicated with each other and who ruled them is unknown. In the 10th century the settlements were suddenly abandoned due to circumstances that have not yet been clarified. The Huari culture forms the cultural foundation of the Inca culture.

Late in the meantime

After the disintegration of the Huari, the Chimú culture developed in the late interim (1000–1450) . It left behind artistically mature metalwork and ceramics. Its capital Chan Chan is unique in pre-Columbian Peru. This culture also fell victim to the Inca expansion.

Later horizon

In the late horizon (1450–1533), the last epoch of pre-Columbian Peru, the last great unifying force developed with the Inca. Thanks to their powerful army, they created a huge empire with a well-developed road network in a very short time . Works of art made of solid gold are typical of this period. This time ended with the conquest of the Inca Empire, weakened by a war of succession.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Las huellas perdidas del hombre de Chivateros on elcomercio.pe, accessed on February 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ The origin of the first indigenous people ( memento of the original from March 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at eldoradotravel.de, accessed on February 28, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / eldoradotravel.de
  3. ↑ Elmo Arturo León Canales - Dissertation on the Pre-Ceramic Epoch of Peru on d-nb.info, accessed on February 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ K. Kris Hirst: Huaca Prieta (Peru) - Formative Mound Construction in Peru ( Memento of the original from April 4, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at archeology.about.com, accessed February 28, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / archaeology.about.com
  5. ↑ Peru - History & Politics - The Early History ( Memento of the original from February 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on peru-erleben.de, accessed on February 28, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.peru-erleben.de
  6. ↑ [ America's second discovery. The second discovery ] in Die Zeit online from December 23, 2008.
  7. ↑ Die Kunst der Moche on die-perureise.de, accessed on February 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ The secret of Nasca is revealed on bild-der-wissenschaft.de, accessed on February 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Early urban cultures in Peru (August 1, 1994) on Spektrum.de, accessed on February 28, 2014.