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Chavín de Huántar (chävēn′ dā wän′tär), archaeological site in the northeastern highlands of Peru, near the headwaters of the Marañon River. It flourished between c.900 B.C. and 200 B.C. The site features two monumental temples and intricate stone carvings depicting snarling human deities and a variety of animals, including caimans, jaguars, snakes, birds of prey, and mythical creatures. The term "Chavín" (or "Chavinoid"), used as an adjective, refers to the intricate art style present at this site, which eventually spread throughout much of central and N Peru. Once considered one of the earliest large-scale ceremonial centers of the central Andes, archaeologists now realize that monumental architecture actually emerged considerably earlier in other parts of Peru. The spread of the Chavín style in media such as metallurgy, textiles, and ceramics dates to the last phase at the site (c.400–200 B.C.), when Chavín de Huántar was undoubtedly the most prestigious religious and urban center in Peru.

This is important because it shows the cultural and religious site that was very important to Peru.

Source:

2013. "Chavín de Huántar." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition 1. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 8, 2013).

http://web.ebscohost.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/ehost/detail?sid=4b1ac565-a909-493e-bf52-53e25eb6c37d%40sessionmgr4002&vid=8&hid=4114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=39051669

Graphic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Chav%C3%ADn_de_Huantar_Ao%C3%BBt_2007_-_Corridors_Int%C3%A9rieurs_2.jpg

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15th Century

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site that has been excellently preserved, the quality of its architecture, and the breathtaking mountain vista it occupies has made Machu Picchu one of the most famous archaeological sites.

In 1911, explorer Hiram Bingham III, aprofessor at Yale University, visited the site and published its existence for the first time. The buildings were made without mortar (typical of the Inca), their granite stones quarried and precisely cut.

Machu Picchu is believed to have been built by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth ruler of the Inca, in the mid-1400s. An empire builder, Pachacuti initiated a series of conquests that would eventually see the Inca grow into a South American realm that stretched from Ecuador to Chile.

But perhaps the biggest puzzle at Machu Picchu is a giant rock, named “the Intihuatana” by Bingham, after other carved stones found in the Incan empire. The stone at Machu Picchu is situated on a raised platform that towers above the plaza. Its purpose is a mystery, with recent research disproving the idea that it acted as a sundial. It may have been used for astronomical observations of some form. It may also be connected with the mountains that surround Machu Picchu.

This is important because it was a major cultural land mark and symbol for the realm. It also leaves us with information vital to understanding our past.

Source:

Jarus, Owen. Live Science. "Machu Picchu: Facts and History". Accessed Dec. 5, 2013.

http://www.livescience.com/22869-machu-picchu.html

Graphic:

http://secondglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Machu_Picchu-Peru.jpg

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1-1500 AD

In Amazonia the Arawaks had already spread from the Urubamba River to the Atlantic Coast to the South. By about 500 AD the era of large scale population movements was largely over.

Deeper in the Amazon the period from 1000 BC to 1 AD was equally fertile for cultural development.

By 500-1000 AD large densely populated regional polities such as those described by early European expeditionary groups became established along many of the primary rivers of Amazonia.

This is important because it shows the gradual change in years in culture, population movements and growth, and who is living in the jungle, such as the Europeans and the Arawaks, and the different movements of cultures.

Source:
Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Thames & Hudson, 2013.

Graphic:

http://www.meltourperu.com/viajes/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/amazonia.jpg

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Somewhere in 200 BC-650 AD

Nazca, famous for the ground lines drawn in the dirt by removing rocks to reveal lighter Earth below, is fairly interesting. Called "geoglyphs", lines and figures are only seen from the sky. The greatest concentration of these is on the Nazca plains. There are more than 100 km of straight lines and several figures. Although there are speculations, the thought that aliens did these is an insult to the Inca Empire.

This is important because it shows the culture of intelligence that was Peru. Each glyph created separately and then forgotten about, shows the difference in the cultures and how ours is so different now, clinging to these forms, while theirs simply made them and moved on.

Source:

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Thames & Hudson, 2013.

Graphic: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/nazca/nazca-lines1.gif

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1476-1533 AD

The emerging state of the Incan empire begins our story, and ends with a not so happy Incan empire.

The Inca empire rises up, with its capital of Cuzco. There were more than a dozen different ethnic groups within a 62 mile radius of Cuzco. Some of these groups allied themselves peacefully with the Incas and some did not. Some of these groups such as the Mohina, lived upstream from Cuzco. After many head buttings, it led to the creation of a sparsely occupied bugger zone separating the forces of Cuzco and Chokepukio.

This period is significant because it shows the changes in the past world. The Inca's take over, creating issues with other settlements, they also build roads, causing issues with the the people of the area. They did all this with millions of male workers to draw upon. All of this ended with a nasty small pox virus.

Source:
Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Thames & Hudson, 2013.

Graphic:

http://www.incapoint.com/CPANEL/FOTOS/00008-6.jpg

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650-1000 AD

The Middle Horizon sees the Wari ruling in the North and the Tiwanaku iin the South. Wari governed almost all of highland and coastal Peru. Tiwanaku dominated the mountains of Southern Peru, Bolivia and Northern Chile.

Environmental challenges such as drought take a hold of the region. The climate turned drier and economic stress continued stacking up, causing social tensions and eventually collapased the two societies.

This is important because this rise of two different opposing forces is so strong that it is surprising that only some dry weather can topple them both. Although they were ruling different territories, eventually these two would have had to choose one victor if Mother Earth had not already done so.

Source:
Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Thames & Hudson, 2013.

Graphic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Monolito_Wari_-_Ayacucho,_Peru.JPG

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200 BC-650 AD

In the Late Intermediate Period, people in many parts of the Andean highlands moved away from rich agricultural lands to settle in defensive sites high on hills and ridges, frequently building hilltop forts known as pukaras in Quechua and Aymara. This settlement shift indicates a concern with warfare not equaled at any other tune in the archaeological sequence. While the traditional assumption is that warfare in the era resulted directly from the collapse of the Middle Horizon polities of Wan and Tiwanaku around A.D. 1000, radiocarbon dates presented here from occupation and wall-building events at pukaras in the northern Titicaca Basin indicate these hillforts did not become common until late in the Late Intermediate Period, after approximately A.D. 1300. Alternative explanations for this late escalation of warfare are evaluated, especially climate change.

This is important because the return to a base of independence in the region is very notable. Also, although there was slight foreshadowing with the rush against the Inca's, there seems to be more settling.

Source:

Arkush, Elizabeth. 2008. "WAR, CHRONOLOGY, AND CAUSALITY IN THE TITICACA BASIN." Latin American Antiquity 19, no. 4: 339-373. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 8, 2013)

http://web.ebscohost.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/ehost/detail?vid=12&sid=4b1ac565-a909-493e-bf52-53e25eb6c37d%40sessionmgr4002&hid=4114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=35955830

Graphic:

http://www.explorebyyourself.com/files/lake-titicaca2.jpg

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400-200 BC

The Early Horizon sees the Chavin culture and beliefs spreading out amongst the people of the Northern Highland of Peru. The area also suffers from a drought, but prevails in the form of production. Cloth becomes in high demand as tapestry comes into use, along with supplemental, and warps, and tie dying. Other innovations included soldering, sweat welding, repousse, and alloying gold with silver or copper. There were also graves full of rich goods that point to elite who ruled in the name of gods, a large social aspect.

This is important because it shows the social status slowly changing, beliefs changing, and the environment as well. The drought put the region under dramatic environmental stress.

Source:

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Thames & Hudson, 2013.

Graphic:

http://www.johnsonmagicproducts.com/shop/images/UltimateSilverCopper.png

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1800-400 BC

This period starts off with the beginnings of pottery. More and more people begin to use the rivers for food and resources.

The period itself is significant because it shows the steps from the pre-ceramic period into one of pottery. People are also using the resources around them as well as spreading out more, which would cut down on any anger in territory advances. With the spreading out also comes population growth.

Source:

Maestri, Nicoletta. Preceramic Period. March 27, 2012. Accessed December 10.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/southamerica/a/Timeline-Of-The-Ancient-Andes-I.htm

Graphic:

http://i.infoplease.com/images/mapsouthamerica.gif

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9500-1800 BC

The preceramic civilization is classsified into six sub categories if you will. The first being the habitation of the area and the last being a time of huge architecture, population increase, and an acceleration in the production of textiles.

The importance of these big happenings are inhabiting the Andes was almost like a hybrid kind of civilization and that was a huge change from the common way of life. The new settlers went through change in tradition showing us that there was interaction with other peoples. hunting and gathering developed meaning the people of the Andes were able to sustain life in there region. The biggest and most important change the pr ceramic civilization underwent was the climatic change that happened . wateer quit rising and glaciers stoped melting meaning that they didnt have to continue moving on. Since they settled food cultivation became big news. With the warming of the Earth came the ability to eat roots and vegetables. This is important because it shows a drastic change in culture since the beginning of this era.

Source: Maestri, Nicoletta. Preceramic Period. March 27, 2012. Accessed December 10.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/southamerica/a/Timeline-Of-The-Ancient-Andes-I.htm

Graphic: http://realhistoryww.com/world_history/ancient/Images_Olmec/caral_amphitheater.jpg