Apart from the cultures of the Amazonian basin, important civilisations flourished primarily in Peru and the Andes. Villages first emerged around 2000 BC, supported by farming. By 1000 BC, the artistically influential Chavin culture had developed, followed later by the Moche and Nazca states. In the 15th century, the famous Inca empire rose to power and by AD 1500 controlled a vast territory from Ecuador in the north to central Chile in the south.
