Chimor – Chan Chan

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Names

• Chan Chan
• Kingdom of Chimor
• Chimú Empire
• Chan Chan
• Cauchan
• Canda
• city of snakes
• city of the moon
• kanĉa – ‘corral, fence, fenced place’
• kanĉa-n(i) ‘(place) where fences/ corrals abound

Captains report on various expeditions, including voyages around the country of the Afrites, trading missions to Chimu and Khemi, and encounters with unknown vessels.

POSEIDON’S PARADISE 1892

Overview

• Time Period: Circa 900 CE to 1470 CE.
• Location: Northern coast of Peru, encompassing 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) (620 miles (997 kilometers)) of coastline.
• Conquest: Conquered by the Inca emperor Topa Inca Yupanqui around 1470 CE, fifty years before the Spanish arrived.
• Capital: Chan Chan.

Origins and Expansion

• Foundation: According to legend, founded by Taycanamo, who arrived by sea on a balsa raft.
• Key Rulers:
  • Taycanamo: Founder of the kingdom.
  • Guacricur: Taycanamo’s son, expanded rule over the lower valley.
  • Ñançenpinco: Grandson, expanded the kingdom further.
• Initial Conquests: Integrated nearby valleys willingly, but conquered the Sican culture.
• Capital: Chan Chan, believed to be founded by Taycanamo.
• Peak: Expanded to the limits of the desert coast and included many different ethnic groups and cultures.

Culture and Society

• Religion:
  • Worshipped the moon, considered more powerful than the sun.
  • Associated the Spondylus shell with the sea, rainfall, and fertility.
• Economy:
  • Relied on agriculture and fishing.
  • Utilized irrigation systems and sunken farms (huachaques).
  • Artisans played a significant role in producing ceramics, textiles, and metalwork.
• Class System:
  • Four-level hierarchy with elite rulers.
  • Majority of citizens were artisans, working in workshops according to their specialization.
  • Social structure facilitated efficient food production and redistribution.

Technology and Art

• Pottery: Known for monochromatic pottery with shiny black finishes.
• Metallurgy:
  • Advanced metalworking in copper, gold, silver, bronze, and tumbaga.
  • Techniques included plating, stamping, lost-wax casting, and embossing.
• Textiles:
  • Made from alpaca wool and cotton.
  • Adorned with brocades, embroidery, feathers, and precious metals.
• Shell Artifacts:
  • Highly valued Spondylus shells used for ornaments and ritual objects.
  • Symbolized elite status and divine power.

Architecture

• Ciudadelas: Large walled enclosures for the elite, resembling fortresses.
• Rural Sites: Mini-ciudadelas for administrative functions.
• Chan Chan: Complex of palaces and workshops, demonstrating social hierarchy.

Downfall

• Conquest by the Incas:
  • Inca emperor Topa Inca Yupanqui began the conquest in the 1470s.
  • Final Chimú emperor, Minchançaman, was defeated and taken to Cusco.
• Legacy: The Chimú were the last kingdom capable of stopping the Inca Empire before their eventual defeat.

Key Points

• Influences: Significantly influenced by the pre-Inca Cajamarca and Wari cultures.
• Economic and Political Role: Spondylus shell trade played a crucial economic and political role.
• Complex Society: Well-developed bureaucracy with elite control over resources and labor.
• Religious Practices: Included human sacrifices, particularly during times of crisis, such as El Niño events.