What happened
Near modern Trujillo, Chan Chan sprawled over many square kilometers of mud-brick walls, palaces, and plazas. Each of its great walled compounds served a Chimú king and became his tomb.
Background
The city held tens of thousands of people, supported by irrigation canals and Pacific fishing. Its walls were decorated with intricate friezes of fish, birds, and geometric designs.
Consequences
The Inca conquered the Chimú around 1470 and took Chan Chan’s wealth and artisans to Cusco. The abandoned city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, threatened by rain and erosion.