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Inca – Andean Region - 1200 to 1532 CE

The Inca, who built the spectacular city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, were the last in a long line of cultures of the Ancient Americas prior to Spanish conquest. At the height of its power, which lasted for little more than a century, the Inca Empire extended throughout the Andes, from present-day Colombia down to Chile -- a stretch of more than 5635km (3,500 miles). At its apex, the Inca Empire's domain was larger than the Roman Empire. The Incas' dominance was achieved through formidable organization and a highly developed economic system. The Incas rapidly expanded their empire first through political alliances and absorption, and then by swift military conquest. The Incas succeeded in achieving political and religious unification across their vast network.

Nazca – Southern Coastal Desert – 200 BCE to 800 CE

The Nazca culture established itself along the coastal desert south of Lima. Nazca engineers created outstanding underground aqueducts, which permitted agriculture in one of the most arid regions on Earth. Nazca artisans introduced complicated polychrome techniques in pottery. But the civilization is internationally known for its enigmatic Nazca Lines, geometric and animal symbols etched indelibly into the desert floor, that are so vast that they can only really be appreciated from the window of an airplane. The majority of the Nazca Lines were created between 1-700 CE.

Moche/Mochica – North Coast - 200 to 700 CE

The Classical period (200–1100 CE) was a time of significant social and technological development in the Andean region. The Moche (or Mochica) civilization, one of the first true urban societies, dominated the valleys of the north coast near Trujillo and conquered a number of smaller groups to build its widespread empire. The Moche was a highly organized, hierarchical civilization that created extraordinary cities and adobe platform complexes. Examples include the Temples of the Sun and Moon near Trujillo, and the burial site of Sipán. Archaeologists unearthed remarkably preserved royal tombs at the Sipán site, including the remains and riches of the Lord of Sipán, a powerful religious and military leader.

Chimú – Northern and Coastal - 700 to 1470 CE

The Chimú were the dominant culture in Peru before the arrival of the conquering Incas, and they initially represented a great rivalry to the Incas. The Chimú culture included creative metallurgists and architects who built the monumental citadel of Chan Chan. Located near the northern coastal city Trujillo, Chan Chan was the largest adobe city in the world with a compound of royal palaces.

Lambayeque – Northern Coast - 750 to 1375 CE

The Lambayeque civilization flourished on the northern coast of Peru. This society is known for its creative and vast producers of art along with the construction of significant, massive palaces. The Lambayeque legacy includes some of the most recognizable iconography from the early Americas.