Moche (culture)

Moche Culture
Moche
Culturally united independent polities
100–700
A map of Moche cultural influence.
Capital		Moche
Languages		Mochica
Religion		Polytheist
Political structure		Culturally united independent polities
Historical era		Pre-Columbian
•	Established	100
•	Disestablished	700
Preceded by Succeeded by Chavín culture Virú culture Huari Culture
Today part of		Peru

External video

Pair of Earflares, Winged Messengers (Moche Culture, Peru), Smarthistory

Moche Portrait Head Bottle, Smarthistory

The Moche civilization (alternatively, the Mochica culture or the Early, Pre- or Proto-Chimú) flourished in northern Peru with its capital near present-day Moche, Trujillo, Peru from about 100 to 800 during the Regional Development Epoch. While this issue is the subject of some debate, many scholars contend that the Moche were not politically organized as a monolithic empire or state. Rather, they were likely a group of autonomous polities that shared a common elite culture, as seen in the rich iconography and monumental architecture that survive today.

Moche society was agriculturally based, with a significant level of investment in the construction of a network of irrigation canals for the diversion of river water to supply their crops. Their culture was sophisticated; and their artifacts express their lives, with detailed scenes of hunting, fishing, fighting, sacrifice, sexual encounters and elaborate ceremonies. The Moche are particularly noted for their elaborately painted ceramics, gold work, monumental constructions (huacas) and irrigation systems.

Moche history may be broadly divided into three periods – the emergence of the Moche culture in Early Moche (100–300 AD), its expansion and florescence during Middle Moche (300–600 AD), and the urban nucleation and subsequent collapse in Late Moche (500–750 AD).

The Salinar culture reigned on the north coast of Peru in 200 BC-200 AD. According to some scholars this was a short transition period between the Cupisnique and the Moche cultures.

There's considerable parallelism between Moche and Cupisnique iconography and ceramic designs, including the iconography of the 'Spider god'.

The Moche cultural sphere is centered on several valleys on the north coast of Peru in regions La Libertad, Lambayeque, Jequetepeque, Chicama, Moche, Virú, Chao, Santa, and Nepena and occupied 250 miles of desert coastline and up to 50 miles inland.