Overview
On the north coast the Moche built adobe pyramids and produced masterful pottery and metalwork, while on the south coast the Nazca made the famous desert lines and geoglyphs. In the highlands, Tiwanaku near Lake Titicaca and Wari in the central Andes grew into expansive states.
Key developments
The Moche and Nazca reached remarkable heights in ceramics, metallurgy, and irrigation, while Tiwanaku and Wari spread administration, roads, and shared styles across wide territories in the Middle Horizon. Wari in particular pioneered the imperial organization the Inca would later perfect.
End and transition
By around AD 1000 the Moche were long gone and both Tiwanaku and Wari collapsed, perhaps amid drought and upheaval. Their fall opened the way for the regional kingdoms of the Late Intermediate.