Detailed Information:
The Wari (Spanish:
Huari) were a civilization that flourished in the south-central Andes and coastal area of modern-day Peru, from about CE 500 to 1000. Wari, as the former capital city was called, is located 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of the modern city of
Ayacucho, Peru. This city was the center of a civilization that covered much of the highlands and coast of modern Peru. Early on, the Wari expanded their territory to include the ancient oracle center of
Pachacamac, though it seems to have remained largely autonomous. Later the Wari became dominant in much of the territory of the earlier
Moche and later
Chimu cultures. The reason for this expansion has been debated; it is believed to have been be driven by religious conversion, military conquest, or the spread of agricultural knowledge, specifically terrace agriculture. The Wari greatly influenced the surrounding countryside, creating new fields with terraced field technology and investing in a major road network -- both of which were used by the Inca when they began to expand their empire several centuries later. Many of the practices of the Wari were later adopted by the Inca. Among theses practices were the use of
ayllu (agricultural terraces) and
mit'a labor (non-reciprocal labor tribute for the state). The Wari were the first to use the
quipu (knotted cords to keep count of items), which became a famous instrument of the Incan Empire.
