Two large-scale expansive polities developed on the north coast during the LIP: Sican and Chimu. Sican developed between ca. AD 900-1350. Its center was first in Batan Grande (Shimada 1981, 1990, 1995, 2000) and later in Tucume (Heyerdahl et al. 1995). Both Sican centers are located in the La Leche - Lambayeque valleys in the northern part of the north coast. The Chimu polity or empire developed between ca. AD 1100-1470. Its heartland was the Moche Valley in the southern part of the north coast and its capital city was Chan Chan (see Figure 39.1 in Chapter 39). This valley was previously the locus for the development of the great Moche center of Huaca del Sol-Huaca de la Luna (“los Mochicas del sur,” discussed in Chapter 36 in this volume) in the Early Intermediate Period.
The origins of the Early Sican (AD 750-900) and Early Chimu (AD 900/1000-1200) polities are still poorly understood. However, their development, expansion, and collapse during the Middle Sican (AD 900-1100) and Late Sican (AD 1100-1375), and the Middle Chimu (AD 1200-1300) and Late Chimu (AD 1300-1470) phases, respectively, are well known on the basis of extensive and systematic archaeological surveys and excavations in a number of sites. The development of these polities, especially during their middle and late phases, had important repercussions in other areas, particularly in the north highlands and on the central coast (see below).
These two polities managed to expand and maintain large multi-valley systems of artificial irrigation, build impressive public monumental architectural complexes (see, e. g., Figure 38.4), control far-reaching and complex trade networks, and produce large amounts of fine manufactured goods, among other unparalleled accomplishments in the Central Andes. Sican controlled a core territory composed of the La Leche, Lambayeque, and Zana valleys and exerted its influence from the Piura Valley to the north to the Jequetepeque Valley to the south. Chimu controlled a core territory composed of the Chicama, Moche and Viru valleys; it eventually conquered Sican around AD 1375, and expanded over the whole north coast and far north coast from the Tumbes Valley to the north to the Huarmey Valley to the south. Chimu was able to control this area for less than a hundred years before being itself conquered by the Incas around AD 1470.
The contrast between these two extremely complex north coast polities and other contemporaneous polities of the Central Andes is dramatic, as will be seen below.
Figure 38.1. Main areas, regions, and sites mentioned in the text. (Jalh Dulanto)
World History
