Physical geography and cultural trajectory of the Central Andes

The Central Andes, characterized by its diverse geography and ecology, can be divided into three distinct regions—North, Center, and South—each with unique cultural trajectories shaped by environmental challenges. While the North exhibited remarkable continuity in complex polities until the 16th century, the South emerged as a dominant force from around AD 700/800, marked by the rise of Wari and Tiwanaku cultures before the Inca era. This study highlights how climatic impacts influenced political collapse and resilience, fostering segmentary polities and later expansive states or empires. By integrating interdisciplinary data, it underscores the importance of regional perspectives in understanding the complex history of the Central Andes, where changing networks played a pivotal role despite the absence of written sources.

Kaulicke, P. (2024). Physical geography and cultural trajectory of the Central Andes. The Oxford Guide to the Languages of the Central Andes, 38–62. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198849926.003.0002