Before the coming of the Incas
The Kingdom of Chuchito
- After the twelfth century, the kingdom of Chuchito dominated the highlands regions around Lake Titicaca.
- They depended of the cultivation of potatoes and herding of llamas and alpacas.
- Like maize in Mesoamerica, potatoes served as the main diet of highlanders.
- Herding llamas and alpacas not only provided meat but also were used for wool, hides, and their dung.
- The Chuchito enhances their diet by brewing a beer-like drink made by maize.
- They also chewed a cocaine-like stimulant (coca leaves)
The kingdom of Chimu (Chimor)
- In the lowland there was the kingdom of Chimu (Chimor)
- Chimu was governed by a large and thriving society.
- The Chimu capital city was Chanchan.
They invented irrigation networks that tapped the rivers and steams which flowed from the Andes Mountains to the water fields in the lowlands. This helped generate a higher yield. - Chuchito and Chimu maintained their control for several centuries but in about thirty years these kingdoms fell under the control of the Incas.