My Science School

 

               The first advanced civilization of South America is the Chavin civilization, which flourished between 900 and 100 BC. It is named after its centre of Chavin de Huantar in Northern Peru. The Chavin civilization built pyramids and temples. The Chavin civilization was followed by the Moche culture. The coast of Peru was the home of this culture. Fishing, agriculture, and Llama breeding made this culture a rich one. The tomb of a nobleman called Lord of Sipan was discovered.

               Southern Peru boasted of the Paracas culture. The culture extended from 1000 to 200 BC. Bottle shaped tombs and finely worked ceramics were features of this culture. They mummified dead bodies and bound them together into ‘mummy bundles’. They also drilled holes in the skull for medical or religious purposes. The Paracas was followed by the Nazca culture which dominated between 370 BC and 450 AD. Tattooed mummies have been found from their tombs. They carved huge pictures on the ground of the Pampa or desert. These pictures are known as geoglyphs. The meaning of the geoglyphs remains a mystery to this day.

 

               The Mayans lived in the area covering present-day Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Descendants of the Maya still live there today. Theirs was the longest lasting advanced culture in Latin America. The Mayans show the influence of the Olmecs. The Mayan culture is divided into the pre classic period between 300 BC and 250 AD, the Classic from 250 -900 AD and the Post classic from 900 to 1511 AD.

               The Mayans grew corns, beans, tomatoes, cotton and cocoa. Limestone was used for building and for obtaining lime, mortar and cement. Mayan cities were often at war. They fought with spears, blowpipes, clubs and knives. The Mayans had a highly developed language of pictures and symbols. Chaac, the God of rain, Huracan, the god of the wind and the storm and the sun god Itzama were their important gods. 

 

                    The pyramids and temples in the Mayan centre of Tikal are decorated with images and text. These retell stories of wars and other important events. Tikal lies north of Gautemala. Yaxchilan which lies in present day Mexico was another important Mayan centre. There is a 19 kilometre chain of stone slabs around the Mayan city of Copan. His successor Smoke Squirrel built Palenque is a Mayan centre that lies south of Mexico.