THE CHIMU PEOPLE c1370 (E3)
xxxxxThe Chimu people of South America settled in northern Peru in about 1250. Around 1370 they began to move southwards, making substantial gains along the coast under the leadership of their legendary ruler Nancen Pinco. From their huge city of Chan Chan they developed a network of roads and a vast irrigation system. They lived in huacas (mud-
xxxxxIt was in about 1250 that the Chimu people, natives of South America, settled along the north coast of modern-
xxxxxTheir civilisation was based on agriculture and depended upon a network of roads and a vast irrigation system. Somewhat like the Pueblo people in Central America, they built enormous mud-
xxxxxThere is clear evidence that the Chimu people were socially advanced. They produced fine work in gold, silver and copper -
xxxxxIncidentally, the Chimu capital of Chan Chan (illustrated) is now deserted due to lack of water, but its massive walls and huge layout of streets, still containing large living blocks, pyramid temples and water tanks, provide one of the world’s most important archaeological sites.
xxxxxAs we shall see, in about 1466 (E4), the Chimu kingdom was overrun by the Incas advancing from the south. They were able to absorb much of the Chimu culture, and also to make direct use of the kingdom’s infrastructure of roads and irrigation canals.
Acknowledgements
Map (Peru): licensed under Creative Commons -
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