Chanka facts for kids

The Chanka people (also called Chanca) were an ancient group of people in Peru. They lived in the areas of Apurimac, Ayacucho, and Lamas. The Chankas were known as enemies of the powerful Incas. Their main home was in Andahuaylas, which is now part of the Apurímac.

The Chankas were split into three main groups:

• The Hanan Chankas (or Upper Chankas)
• The Urin Chankas (or Lower Chankas)
• The Villca (or Hancohuallos)

The Hanan Chankas lived in Andahuaylas, the Urin Chankas in Uranmarca, and the Villca in Vilcas Huaman, Ayacucho. The Hanan Chankas were a strong group who lived in parts of Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junin, and Apurímac. They are believed to have come from two lakes, Chuqlluqucha and Urququcha, both in the Huancavelica area. Their first lands were between the Ancoyaco, Pampas, and Pachachaca Rivers. They spoke a language called puquina. Their capital city was Waman Karpa, which means "falcon's tent."

A leader named Uscovilca started the Chanka expansion. His mummy was kept and honored in Waman Karpa until the time of the Incas.

Life and Times of the Chankas

Some experts think that the Chanka society was simpler than the earlier Wari culture, especially in how they built their cities. Most Chanka villages were small, with about 100 houses. However, other experts believe the Chankas had larger towns too.

They buried their dead in different ways: some in special tombs called mausoleums, others simply in the ground, and some in caves or rock shelters.

The Chankas were skilled farmers. They worshipped a puma god. When they went to battle, they painted their faces and shouted loudly. They also carried the mummies of their ancestors on their shoulders into fights. The Chankas were a strong group and built a powerful regional kingdom that reached its peak around the 13th century.

Chankas in Battle

Stories from the Incas describe the Hanan Chankas as fierce fighters. When they captured enemies, they treated them harshly to show how strong and fearless they were.

The Chanka Empire's Peak

The Chankas were strongest between the years 1200 and 1438. Around 1430, the Chanka nation attacked the Inca Empire in their capital city, Cusco. The Inca prince Yupanqui, who later became known as Pachacuti, bravely led the Inca defense and defeated the Chankas. This was a very important battle, and Cusco was almost captured by the Chankas.

Some Inca stories say that the Urin Chankas were conquered much earlier, around 1230, by the Inca ruler Mayta Cápac. However, most historians agree that the Chankas were defeated and brought under Inca rule by Pachacuti.

The Great Battle for Cusco

In 1438, a Chanka leader named Anccu Hualloc gathered about 40,000 warriors to conquer Cusco. They marched successfully and surrounded the city. The Inca ruler Viracocha and many nobles fled, feeling hopeless. But Prince Cusi Yupanqui (who later became Pachacutec) bravely took charge of the defense. He gathered allies and offered peace to the Chankas, but they refused.

A very bloody battle was fought in a place called Yawarpampa, which means "field of blood." Cusco won the battle with the help of friendly forces who arrived at the right time. One story says that the Incas won because stones miraculously turned into soldiers (called "pururaucas") to trick the Chankas. After the battle, it's said that 22,000 Chankas and 8,000 people from Cusco died. Anccu Hualloc was captured. The Hanan Chankas were chased all the way back to Antahualla.

The prince who defended Cusco became the new Inca ruler and started a new royal family.

Chankas and the Spanish Conquest

When the Inca Civil War was happening between the Inca brothers Huáscar and Atahuallpa, the Chankas, who had been forced to work for the Incas for a long time, heard about strange men from the north. These men had pale faces, wore armor, and rode large animals (horses).

The Chankas saw this as a chance to escape Inca rule. Some Chankas went to meet these mysterious men, who turned out to be Spanish conquistadors. The Spanish already had many Native allies, like the Cañaris, Huancas, and Chachapoyas. The Chankas, using an interpreter named Felipillo, offered to fight with the Spanish against the Incas, who had taken their lands and enslaved their people.

At first, the Spanish were interested. But their Native allies warned them about the Chankas' fierce fighting style, saying it went against "Christian values." The allies refused to work with the Spanish if they teamed up with the Chankas. However, Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish leader, saw how skilled the Chankas were in battle. He convinced his men and the other Native allies that with "proper leadership," the Chankas' fighting skills would help them win the conquest.

Life Under Spanish Rule

After the Spanish won, the Chankas got their freedom and lands back as part of their deal. Many Chankas were baptized and started learning Spanish. Some Chankas and Spaniards married, leading to mestizo children (people of mixed heritage).

Even though the Chankas played a big part in defeating the Incas, only the Huancas were officially recognized by King Philip II for their help. Also, while the Chankas were supposed to be protected by Spanish laws, they still faced unfair treatment from some Spanish priests.

How the Chankas Were Organized

The Chankas of Andahuaylas were related to other tribes in the Ayacucho area. They became stronger after the Wari empire declined. The Chanka lands were divided into three main groups: Hanan Chanka, Urin Chanka, and Villca (or Rukanas). The Chanka nation included the Ancoyaco, Andahuayla, Rucana, and Sora tribes.

The Rucanas were divided into three groups: Hanan rucana, Hurin rucana, and Andamarca rucana. The word rukak or lukak means shippers or mule drivers. This name was given to them during the Inca Empire because they carried things for the Inca royalty.

Another important Chanka group was the Soras. Their old language was Aymara. The Soras were divided into Hanan soras, Hurin soras, and Chalco. They greatly respected a snowy mountain called Qarwarasu. The Soras were never defeated by the Chankas and often fought against them because they were allies with the Incas.

Chanka Economy

The Urin Chankas mainly made their living through farming and raising animals.

They grew many different Andean plants in various climate zones. They also raised and herded large numbers of llamas, vicuñas, alpacas, and guanacos. These animals provided wool and meat.

Chanka Culture and Art

Chanka pottery was usually flat with a rough surface, sometimes painted with a light red color. They decorated their pottery with raised designs, like clay buttons or small figures, and also used cuts or circular stamps. Common shapes were open dishes and jugs with narrow necks, sometimes with simple faces.

The Chanka people lived in a very good location. They controlled the land and could easily defend themselves. They were close to water sources and could use the land's resources, including different climate zones for farming and raising animals.

An old writer, Damián de la Bandera, said about them: "They all live between the highest and the lowest points in ground cooler than hot, in high places and valleys caused by the rains, where they enjoy both extremes, of the colder land, to graze the domestic cattle, those that have them, and (those that don't)hunt the wild ones, and of the hotter land, to sow seeds, at their time. The villages are no bigger than the water and land will allow and in many of them no more than ten more indians could live for lack of water and ground."

Damián also mentioned that the Chankas had three main jobs: potters, silversmiths (metal workers), and carpenters. These skills continued even after the Spanish arrived.

What Remains of the Chankas

Some of the most impressive Chanka ruins are "Inca Raqay," which have been studied by Martha Anders. These ruins are located near the Mantaro River, north of Huanta. The Urin Chankas also built the strong Suntur fort, the metalworking center of Curamba, and the Inti Watana in Uranmarca. These sites are in beautiful parts of the Andahuaylas Province.

Many districts in the region also have various ruins that show the history of the Wari, Pacor, Chanka, and Inca cultures.

While we know a lot about their military history and leaders, the actual archaeological sites identified as Chanka don't give us a complete picture of their daily life and customs.

Places like Waman Karpa (near Andahuaylas), Carahuasi, and Rumihuasi (near Abancay) still need more study.

Many Chanka pottery pieces and tools are displayed in museums in Apurimac, Ayacucho, and Lamas, where Chanka descendants still live today.

See also

In Spanish: Chanca para niños