Nazca Civilization: History & Culture
Nazca Civilization: Pre-Inca civilization that existed between the 1st and 6th centuries in Southern Peru.
| Data | |
|---|---|
| Date | 1st – 6th Century |
| Location | South of Peru |
| Religion | Polytheists |
| Economy | Agriculture and Fishing |
Who were the Nazcas?
The Nazcas were a pre-Inca civilization that existed between the 1st and 6th centuries in southern Peru, more specifically around Nazca and its surrounding valleys.
This culture is known worldwide for its impressive geoglyphs drawn in the desert, called Nazca lines, which can be seen from the air and the nearby hills. Although its meaning is not clear, experts say they are related to its astronomical calendar.
The territory of the Nazca culture was extensive: he understood since Chincha, in the North, to Arequipa, in the South; and from the Pacific Ocean, in the West, to Ayacucho, in the East.
The language they practiced was Quechua.
Location of the Nazca Culture
The Nazcas were in the South of present-day Peru, in an area that begins from the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Chincha province, to Los Andes, Ayacucho. Its territory extended from north to South in Pisco de Arequipa.
The central zone of the Nazca culture was in the city of Cahuachi, located 6 km from the current city of Nazca, on the left side of the Rio Grande. There was a pyramidal ceremonial center with an adobe structure.
Location of the Nazca culture on the map.
Characteristics of the Nazca Culture
The main characteristics of the Nazca culture were the following:
- They made geoglyphs, large lines on the desert floor that illustrate geometric figures of, among other things, animals.
- They made polychrome ceramic pieces with figures of animals, plants and men, in some cases mutilated, and used colors to decorate them.
- They made their own clothing and applied textile art, with different colors and geometric figures, in materials such as cotton, llama wool, alpacas and vicuñas with different manufacturing techniques.
- They practiced cranial deformation, placing tape around the skull of newborns for a year. It is believed that with this practice they differentiated themselves socially and religiously from other cultures.
- They carried out human sacrifices in religious and war rituals. They also mummified the heads of the dead, adorned them and wove them to make rituals, offerings and war trophies.
- Their economy was based on agriculture, where they implemented advanced irrigation techniques, such as aqueduct networks, wells and canals, to supply water to crops.
Economy of the Nazca Culture
The Nazca economy was based on agriculture, despite the fact that they were located in the most desert area of Peru. During the summer they took advantage of the flow of the rivers to irrigate the food they grew, through reservoirs and canals.
They used a sophisticated system of underground aqueducts, wells and reservoirs, to maintain the irrigation of their crops. Some of the aqueducts are still in use today. The most common crops were corn, beans, peanuts, guava, squash, yucca, chili, and cotton.
The Nazcas also engaged in fishing, shellfishing, and commerce. Being settled very close to the sea, the settlers took advantage of their wealth.
Social and Political Organization of the Nazca Society
Social Organization of the Nazca Culture
The social system of the Nazca culture was conformed as follows:
Nazca culture social pyramid.
- Priests and Lords: Those who represented the central authority. They were in charge of organizing community work, directing religious ceremonies and living in pyramid-shaped buildings, in special sectors and built with adobes.
- Warriors: Noted for their strength and pride, they were a highly respected social class in the Nazca culture.
- Craftsmen: Potters, textile makers, astrologers, musicians and soldiers. They resided in small cities and ceremonial centers, such as Cahuachi, and were at the service of the authorities.
- Farmers and Fishermen: They lived in various parts of the territory, in the valleys and near the sea, taking advantage of the space for production and fishing.
Political Organization of the Nazca Culture
The political organization of the Nazca culture was not characterized by having a unified government, but rather it was divided into local manors located in the different valleys.
Each of these was autonomous in its decisions and applied policies. Each lordship possessed its own authority and it is believed that they have constantly fought wars and alliances with each other.
Religion of the Nazca Culture
The Nazca religion was polytheistic. They worshiped and performed rituals for various divinities: the god of the sea, the earth, the sky, the water, the fire, the wind and the creator God.
Much of the buildings were built in honor of the gods, in order that there would be no drought and the canals would not dry up.
The main deities of the Nazca culture were:
- Kon: Creator of the world and men, represented with feline masks and a large staff called a staff.
- Botto: A hybrid of feline, fish and bird, which caused fear and destruction.
Although some consider that the Nazca lines respond to an agricultural circle or the astronomical calendar, others relate them closely to religion, stating that they were a place of ritual ceremonies for their gods.
