Those Captivating Chimú! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Spindle

The Chimú culture made beautiful textiles using spindles that would twist fibers like cotton or wool into thread; the thread used is of such a uniform consistency that it is believed to have all been made in one location. Their cloth was dyed using natural substances, such as walnut, clay, or cochineal, and was decorated with embroidery, gold and silver plates, or feathers.

After studying archaeological evidence, historians have concluded that both men and women were artisans; they were grouped according to their area of specialization, and were not allowed to change their trade.

Answer: Ciudadelas

Within the capital of the Kingdom of Chimor there are ten "ciudadelas", or royal enclosures, that are thought to have been associated with the palaces of the kings of Chimú. Surrounded by a wall made of adobe brick, the "ciudadelas" are about thirty feet tall, and are one of six classes of architecture that are found in the capital.

There are also non-royal living spaces for the wealthy, buildings for artisan homes and workshops, temples, courts, and rooms on the outer boundaries of the city which were probably provided housing for the majority of the city's peoples.

Answer: Moche

Archaeologists believe that the Chimú culture rose to prominence in the area of northern Peru after the demise of the Moche, as both their pottery making and metal working techniques are similar. The Moche, which is also called Early Chimú, is believed to be the oldest civilization in northern Peru, ending in approximately 700 AD.

There are a couple of theories as to what caused the culture to collapse. One is that a climate change that brought 30 years of heavy rain followed by 30 years of drought, perhaps caused by a "super El Nino", undermined the religion, which the people believed had promised good weather as the result of human sacrifice.

Others theorize that it may have been caused by social unrest that was brought on by the change in weather and loss of faith in their religion.

Answer: Chan Chan

Located in the Moche River Valley, Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú culture from approximately 700-1470 AD. In spite of the fact that a river was present, the area around Chan Chan was rather arid and dry, hence the meaning of the name - "Sun Sun". With very little rain, the area depended on run-off water from the Andes Mountains, which was used for irrigation.

It is estimated that the urban area of the capital covered approximately eight square miles and had a population of 40,000-60,000 people. Imported raw materials were brought into the city and made into goods by 12,000 artisans who lived there.

Answer: Shi

Shi, or the moon, was the strongest Chimú culture deity because it could be seen both during the day and night. In addition, it was believed that the moon determined weather conditions and helped the crops flourish. While the people sacrificed animals and birds to Shi, there is evidence to suggest that they also sacrificed some of their children around the age of five, believing that they would become divine.

Other deities worshiped included the Sun, Jiang, and the Sea, Ni.

Answer: Shellfish

As early as Neanderthal times, ornaments made from a breed of shellfish in the "Spondylidae" family found in the Aegean Sea were used as bangles and other decorations. Also called the thorny or spiny oyster, the "spondylus" used by the Chimú culture is only found off the coast of Ecuador.

The shells were used as a religious offering, as well as currency; they have been found as far north as Mexico and as far south as the Central Andes. The meat of the shellfish is also edible.

Answer: Tumbaga metal

Tumbaga metal was used primarily in the crafting of religious artifacts in the Chimú culture. While it is harder than copper, it has a lower melting point than gold, maintains its malleability, and is very versatile, as it can be decorated in a wide variety of ways. Most of the copper used in the Kingdom of Chimor came from a site three days away. Mixed with gold, it was made into tumi knives, highly decorated ceremonial axes, that were used in religious festivals to make sacrifices. Artisan metalworking was a highly specialized occupation, with each artisan making just one type or style of work.

Answer: Hierarchial

It appears there was a type hierarchial system for the settlements that was used within the Chimú culture; the capital city was the most important, and other settlements were given their position on the hierarchy as they were added to the empire. At the capital walled areas are believed to have been the center of the ruling elite of the culture, who made decisions regarding food storage, distribution of resources and products, as well as making decisions regarding the governance of the culture.

The lower, subordinate settlements managed the labor, canals, and agricultural land, while the higher ranking settlements would either move resources to the capital or assist in administrative decision-making. Rural settlements were used as engineering centers while canals were being constructed and served as maintenance centers after completion.

Answer: Guanaco

The guanaco is related to the llama, alpaca, and vicuna; all were used for wool by the Chimú culture and llamas were also kept for meat. Still considered to be a wild animal today, the guanaco is double-coated with coarse guard hair and soft hair underneath. Second in value to the vicuna, it is said that wool from the guanaco compares to high quality cashmere.

Answer: Inca Empire

The Kingdom of Chimor was believed to have been the last remaining rival to the growing Inca Empire. About 1470 AD Topa Inca Yupanqui conquered the Chimú culture and held its king in permanent captivity at Cuzco to insure compliance; many of the skilled artisans were deported to Cuzco as well. Even with the status of a vassal state, the Kingdom of Chimor influenced the development of the Inca Empire; borrowed ideas included foreign artists working for the state, conquered rulers holding some authority, and the ruler inheriting the title of the previous king, but not the property.

Incan chroniclers also kept written records regarding Chimú rulers and religious practices.