Wari Empire Emerges in the Andes

The Wari Empire emerged around 550-600 CE in Peru's Ayacucho Basin from the earlier Huarpa culture. Based at their capital of Huari, the Wari developed agricultural techniques, urban architecture, and administrative systems that enabled territorial expansion across the Peruvian highlands and coast through administrative centers, roads, and artistic styles. The empire coexisted with the Tiwanaku culture to the south during the Middle Horizon period (600-1000 CE) before declining around 1000-1100 CE.