Chimú culture

The Chimú culture began in the period from 1250 to 1470 in the north of Peru in the area around the city of Trujillo by. At the time of its greatest extent influence extended in the north to the border of Ecuador and south to Lima. Its capital Chan Chan is said to have houses to its peak of over 100,000 people and was the largest city on the South American continent.

Through the - for that time - huge crowds, the Chimú were forced to invent new techniques. They used slave labor to exploit the abundant ore deposits and to win Gold River. From Bolivia tin was brought in, so bronze alloys could be produced. In the manufacture of ceramic and gold objects they developed the series production. For water supply of the population, they built canals, a buffer for the water of the rivers in the mountains and led over mountain slopes to branches. Some of these channels led the water at up to 100 kilometers from its original distant targets. In this way, parched valleys themselves could be farmed and feed the inhabitants. Due to the increase in people also developed an order. It originated classes and hierarchies: artisans, traders, administration and military.

Through aerial photography in 1932 was a huge building that Mayao wall, discovered. She was about 3 m high and 4.5 m wide and stretched from the Pacific coast to the mountain slopes, 65 km away. It was guarded by 50 built fortresses. According to suspicions they limited the first expansion area of the Chimú.

Although the sun had a high priority, the Chimu worshiped the moon as important to God because he was able to cover the sun. Eclipses were therefore always cause for great celebrations. The growth of the plants, the crops and the tide wrote the Chimú to the moon. The father of the stones and rocks, with their supernatural powers, however, was the sun. Victims played an important role. A popular item for offerings, but also in the arts and crafts was the domestic in the warm coastal waters Ecuadorian Spondylus shell, whose lustrous shell was highly valued and widely traded. It was regarded as a symbol of the sea and the rain and so as a fertility symbol.

For the manufacture of ceramic articles the Chimú developed a special technique. Towards the end of the firing furnace was hermetically sealed to prevent oxygen supply. The remaining smoke fog the surface of the object and adds a glossy black color. This technology is called reduction firing today. Paintings on ceramic objects did not exist, in contrast to the Mochica culture. Series production was more important than arts and crafts.

The Chimú used in the manufacture of textiles, the wool of alpaca and vicuna. They were easy to dye and process. For higher ranking people as did the clothes, but also carpets and even tents were generated.

The Chimú developed the goldsmith's work, which they probably inherited from the Mochica, much further. They dominated the casting, welding, plating and were also able to produce various alloys. However, this is no longer receive much. Supposedly brought the Inca, after the conquest of the kingdom of the best goldsmith's work to Cuzco. Most works of art were melted down during the conquest by the Spaniards.

1470, the last king was defeated and conquered the Minchancaman Chimúreich by the Inca ruler Tupac Yupanqui and incorporated into his kingdom.

The language of the Chimú, the Quingnam, was a variant of the Muchik and died in the area of Trujillo in the 18th century. In Food ( Department of Lambayeque ), the Muchik held, however, until the early 20th century.