Chimú 101 | National Geographic

(Gentle music)

[Narrator] Before the Spanish conquest and before the Inca empire, one group created the most important South American civilization at the time, the Chimu. The Chimu civilization lasted almost half a millennium, from the year 1000 to around 1470 A.D. At its height, the kingdom spanned the region between the southern border of Ecuador and the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Much of the Chimus' success has to do with their engineering capabilities and artistry. The Chimu were able to construct massive structures, particularly in the wealthy capital city of Chan Chan. Thousands of adobe structures, such as palaces and temples, were up to hundreds of feet long, and some of those buildings had walls about 30 feet high.

The Chimu also developed a signature artistic style. Craftsmen excelled at producing luxury textiles and elaborate metalworks. They also created ceramics that were distinctly Chimu and often reflected aspects of their coastal lifestyle, such as fish, otters, and sea birds.

Despite advancements in art and engineering, the Chimu civilization eventually fell. By around 1470 A.D., they were conquered by the next great Andean civilization, the Inca. Centuries later, however, the Chimu culture lives on.

In 1986, Chan Chan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, helping preserve the legacy of this ancient culture for many more years to come.

(Gentle guitar music)