key term - Moche Culture

Definition

Moche culture refers to a Pre-Columbian civilization that flourished on the northern coast of Peru from about 100 to 800 CE, known for its advanced agricultural practices, intricate pottery, and complex social structure. This civilization is significant for its innovations in technology and trade, which played crucial roles in their agricultural success and cultural development.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Moche culture is noted for its advanced irrigation techniques, which allowed them to farm in a desert region and support a large population.
2. The Moche are famous for their finely crafted ceramics, including portrait vessels that depicted humans and animals, showcasing their artistic skills.
3. This culture built impressive monumental architecture, such as the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna, which served both administrative and religious functions.
4. Moche society was highly stratified, with a clear distinction between the elite ruling class and the common people, which was reflected in their burial practices.
5. The decline of Moche culture around 800 CE is thought to be linked to environmental changes and resource depletion, leading to a shift in population and cultural transformation.

Review Questions

• How did Moche agricultural practices contribute to their social structure and cultural development?
  • Moche agricultural practices were advanced and included sophisticated irrigation systems that enabled them to cultivate crops in arid environments. This agricultural success allowed for population growth and the establishment of a complex social hierarchy. The surplus of food supported a class of elites who engaged in governance and religious activities, ultimately leading to a rich cultural development characterized by art and monumental architecture.
• Discuss the significance of Moche pottery in understanding their culture and society.
  • Moche pottery is significant as it provides insight into their daily life, beliefs, and social structure. The intricate designs and themes depicted on their ceramics reflect not only artistic skill but also cultural narratives, including religious practices and social hierarchies. The portrait vessels created by the Moche often represented individuals with specific traits, indicating the importance of identity within their society. Additionally, pottery serves as archaeological evidence that helps reconstruct aspects of Moche culture that might otherwise remain unknown.
• Evaluate the factors that led to the decline of Moche culture and how this decline affected subsequent civilizations in the region.
  • The decline of Moche culture around 800 CE can be attributed to various factors including environmental changes such as droughts or floods that affected agricultural output. Resource depletion due to intensive farming practices may have also played a role. This decline led to shifts in population as communities migrated or transformed into other cultural identities. The weakening of Moche influence paved the way for other civilizations like the Lambayeque and Chimu to rise in prominence in the region.

Related terms

Adobe: A building material made from clay and straw, used extensively by the Moche to construct their impressive temples and other structures.

Huaca: Sacred sites or temples that served religious purposes in Moche society, often associated with important deities and rituals.

Quipu: An ancient Incan recording device made of colored threads, used to keep track of numerical information; while primarily associated with the Inca, similar systems may have existed in Moche culture.