Chan Chan

Quick Facts: Who was Chan Chan?

Subject:

Chan Chan

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Ancient capital of the Chimor kingdom, a major pre-Columbian city in northern Peru.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Chan Chan (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃaɲ ˈtʃaŋ]), sometimes called Chimor, was the capital city of the Chimor kingdom, a pre-Columbian era culture in South America. The city is now an archeological site in the department of La Libertad five kilometers (3.1 mi) west of Trujillo, Peru. Chan Chan is located in the mouth of the Moche Valley and was the capital of the historical empire of the Chimor from 900 to 1470, when they were defeated and incorporated into the Inca Empire. Chimor, a conquest state, developed from the Chimú culture that established itself along the Peruvian coast around 900 CE. Chan Chan is in a particularly arid section of the coastal desert of northern Peru.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Due to the lack of rain in this area, the major source of nonsalted water for Chan Chan is in the form of rivers carrying surface runoff from the Andes. This runoff allows for control of land and water through irrigation systems. The city of Chan Chan spanned 20 square kilometers (7.7 mi2; 4,900 acres) and had a dense urban center of six square kilometers (2.3 mi2; 1,500 acres) which contained extravagant ciudadelas. Ciudadelas were large architectural masterpieces which housed plazas, storerooms, and burial platforms for the royals. The splendor of these ciudadelas suggests their association with the royal class.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Housing for the lower classes of Chan Chan's hierarchical society are known as small, irregular agglutinated rooms (SIARs). Because the lower classes were often artisans whose role in the empire was to produce crafts, many of these SIARs were used as workshops. The original meaning and the language of origin of the place name Chan Chan remain unresolved issues among specialists. Among others, scholars such as Ernst Middendorf, Jorge Zevallos Quiñones, Rodolfo Cerrón-Palomino and Matthias Urban have dealt with the question. The puzzle is made difficult by the erratic nature of its written record in colonial documents and by the linguistic situation of the pre-Hispanic North Peruvian coast.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1470: 1470 Milestone — Chan Chan is located in the mouth of the Moche Valley and was the capital of the historical empire of the Chimor from 900 to 1470, when they were defeated and incorporated into the Inca Empire.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Chan Chan

True or False: “The primary source of water for Chan Chan was exclusively from rainfall collected within the Moche Valley.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Chan Chan's major source of non-salalted water came from rivers carrying surface runoff originating from the Andes Mountains.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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Frequently Asked Questions about Chan Chan