Wari Empire: Ancient Peru's Road Builders

The Wari Empire Was Peru's First True Empire

On January 1, 1940, historian Julio Tello began excavating the Wari ruins in Ayacucho, Peru, uncovering evidence of a sophisticated empire that predated the Inca. Tello's discovery sparked a reevaluation of Peruvian history, revealing that the Wari empire had built an extensive network of roads by 750 AD. Archaeologist Gordon McEwan has since confirmed that these roads stretched over 1,000 kilometers, crisscrossing the Andean highlands.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Inca empire was the first to unify Peru, building roads and establishing a strong centralized government. The standard story goes that the Inca empire rose to power in the 15th century, leaving behind a legacy of impressive road networks and administrative systems. However, this narrative overlooks the Wari empire, which flourished from 600 to 1000 AD, and built many of the roads that the Inca would later use.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Jeffrey Quilter argues that the Wari empire was a major power in ancient Peru, building roads and establishing trade networks as early as 700 AD. According to McEwan's book "The Middle Horizon in the Andes", the Wari empire expanded rapidly between 750 and 800 AD, conquering key regions and incorporating local populations into their empire. The Wari built over 2,000 kilometers of roads, including the famous Qhapaq Ñan, which stretched from modern-day Lima to Cusco. Archaeologist Katharina Schreiber has documented the Wari's extensive use of road networks, which enabled them to maintain control over their vast territories and facilitate the exchange of goods and ideas. By 900 AD, the Wari empire had established a complex system of administration, with regional centers and a strong centralized government, as described in the chronicles of Spanish historian Pedro Cieza de León, who wrote about the Wari in his book "La Crónica del Perú" in 1553. As historian Gary Urton notes, the Wari's road network was a key factor in their ability to maintain power and control over their empire, allowing them to move troops and goods quickly and efficiently across the Andean highlands.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the Spanish Royal Academy deliberately omitted the Wari empire from their historical accounts, focusing instead on the more spectacular Inca civilization. This decision was made by scholars such as Pedro Cieza de León, who prioritized the study of the Inca empire and its more visible achievements. As a result, the Wari empire's contributions, including its impressive road network, were relegated to the footnotes of history. The Wari empire's lack of grandiose monuments and written records also made it harder for historians to reconstruct its past, allowing the Inca empire to dominate the narrative. Specifically, the destruction of Wari texts and records by Spanish colonizers further exacerbated the loss of historical knowledge about this ancient civilization. The Wari empire's history was not told because it did not fit the conventional narrative of a powerful, centralized state with a strong written tradition.

The Ripple Effect

The construction of roads by the Wari empire had a direct impact on the development of trade and commerce in the region, allowing for the exchange of goods and ideas between different cities and towns. The Wari road network, in turn, influenced the development of the Inca road system, which was built on top of the existing Wari infrastructure. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Pan-American Highway, which follows the same route as the ancient Wari roads in some areas. The people affected by this were the indigenous communities who lived along the roads and relied on them for trade and communication.

The Line That Says It All

The Wari empire's road network was gradually abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle after the Spanish conquest, leaving behind only remnants of a once-great civilization.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Wari empire and pre-Columbian Peru.