Instructional Video3:49
Curated Video

Quinoa and the Expansion of the Inca Empire

Pre-K - Higher Ed
The Inca Empire was a large and powerful civilization that covered a region from Ecuador to Chile and had 12 million inhabitants at its height. Was quinoa their recipe for success?<b<br/>r/>

Quinoa part 3/5
Instructional Video3:58
National Geographic

See How Ancient Past and Present Meet in This Coastal Town | National Geographic

Pre-K - 11th
Archaeologist and National Geographic explorer Gabriel Prieto returned to his hometown of Huanchaco, Peru to tell the story of its 3,500 years of cultural continuity and involve the local community in discovering their past. ➡
Instructional Video3:26
Curated Video

Wari Foundations of the Inca Empire

9th - Higher Ed
The Inca Empire built on Wari knowledge and infrastructure, repurposing their roads, urban planning techniques, and possibly even record-keeping tools like quipus. While the Inca did not copy Wari art styles directly, they may have...
Instructional Video11:01
Curated Video

Machu Picchu and the Incas for Kids | Bedtime History

K - 5th
Embark on a breathtaking journey through the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and the fascinating history of the Inca civilization in this captivating history episode! Explore the architectural wonders and cultural significance of this...
Instructional Video7:16
Curated Video

The Inca Empire: Machu Picchu and Cusco

6th - Higher Ed
Exploring Machu Picchu, Peru:Our adventure begins amidst the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, offering insight into the fascinating culture of the Incas. Traverse breathtaking paths, uncover hidden treasures, and marvel at the...
Instructional Video6:58
Curated Video

Rise of the Wari: Peru’s First Empire Begins

9th - Higher Ed
The Wari emerged around 600 CE as the first true empire in the Andes, transforming from the local Warpa culture into a powerful state that united many peoples. Their success was built on smart farming systems, artistic innovation, and...
Instructional Video5:59
Curated Video

The Resilience and Rediscovery of Quinoa

Pre-K - Higher Ed
This video covers the history and characteristics of quinoa, an ancient grain that has gained popularity in recent years. The video also explores the rediscovery of quinoa by Americans in the 1970s and its cultivation in various...
Instructional Video0:41
Wonderscape

Cachua: The Ancient Language of the Inca Empire

K - 5th
Preschool Prep - Alphabet and Languages from A-Z V1-0018

Learn about the ancient and fascinating Kachua language family, spoken by the Kachua peoples in the Peruvian Andes. Dating back to the time of the Inca empire, this unique...
Instructional Video6:08
Curated Video

The Wari: First Empire of the Andes?

9th - Higher Ed
In the 1540s, Spanish explorer Pedro Cieza de León came across ancient ruins in Peru that didn’t match Inca design. Locals said the buildings were made by light, bearded people who lived there long before the Inca. Cieza had unknowingly...
Instructional Video7:04
Curated Video

Wari Religion and Beliefs

9th - Higher Ed
The Wari believed in a complex spiritual world centered on dualism and a powerful life force, which was represented in their religious art by the staff deity—a figure tied to both life and death. Religious ceremonies included offerings...
Instructional Video4:19
Curated Video

Rafts, Legends, and Voyages: Sailing South America's Pacific Past

9th - Higher Ed
Ancient South Americans built big balsa wood rafts that could sail long distances and supported active sea trade. Some legends, like those of Inca leader Tupac Yupanqui sailing to far-off islands, show how important ocean travel was to...
Instructional Video3:33
Curated Video

Farming the Mountains: Wari Agricultural Ingenuity

9th - Higher Ed
The Wari were master engineers who revolutionized farming in the Andes with advanced irrigation systems and expertly designed agricultural terraces. These terraces included layers for drainage, heat retention, and soil replacement,...
Instructional Video6:55
Curated Video

Wari Cities and Engineering: Building an Empire in the Mountains

9th - Higher Ed
Wari cities were carefully planned with grid-based layouts, multi-story buildings, and enclosed spaces that projected power and control. They used advanced engineering to build terraces, aqueducts, and a huge canal system to grow food...
Instructional Video5:30
Curated Video

Status and Style: Examining Wari Textiles and Jewelry

9th - Higher Ed
Wari textiles were masterpieces of color and precision, including elite tapestry tunics woven entirely by hand with complex patterns, animals, and symbols of religious power. These luxury items, along with finely crafted jewelry made...
Instructional Video4:00
Curated Video

Symbols of Power and Beauty: Wari Art and Ceramics

9th - Higher Ed
Wari art, especially their colorful and detailed pottery, reflected both their religious beliefs and political power. Influenced by coastal cultures like the Nasca, Wari ceramics featured images of the staff deity, warriors, animals, and...
Instructional Video4:36
Curated Video

Wari Architecture

9th - Higher Ed
The city of Wari began as a Warpa settlement and grew into a bustling capital with somewhere between 10,000 and 70,000 residents. Its unique architecture included D-shaped buildings, multi-story buildings with patio structures, and...
Instructional Video10:33
Curated Video

A Patchwork Empire: How the Wari Ruled a Diverse Land

9th - Higher Ed
Although the Wari built impressive infrastructure, scholars still debate how their empire was ruled—whether by an emperor or a council remains unknown. Wari influence varied by region: some areas were tightly controlled, while others...
Instructional Video5:05
Curated Video

Religion and Violence: How the Wari Conquered Their Rivals

9th - Higher Ed
The Wari spread their influence not just through diplomacy and feasting, but also with a powerful religious ideology centered on the staff deity, which legitimized their rule and appeared widely in their art. Their expansion often...
Instructional Video1:09
Great Big Story

Maras Salt Pans, A Timeless Tradition of Natural Salt Harvesting

12th - Higher Ed
Discover the ancient salt pans of Maras, Peru, where traditional salt extraction methods continue to thrive amid stunning landscapes.<br/>
Instructional Video2:10
National Geographic

Finding Frozen Mummies in One of the World’s Tallest Mountain Ranges | Best Job Ever

Pre-K - 11th
Johan Reinhard is a forerunner in the study of high-altitude archaeology. Focusing on ancient peoples, his trips regularly take him up mountains, underwater, and into jungles. His team also found something you don’t see any old day:...
Instructional Video2:10
National Geographic

Finding Frozen Mummies in One of the World’s Tallest Mountain Ranges | Best Job Ever

Pre-K - 11th
Johan Reinhard is a forerunner in the study of high-altitude archaeology. Focusing on ancient peoples, his trips regularly take him up mountains, underwater, and into jungles. His team also found something you don’t see any old day:...
Instructional Video3:56
National Geographic

How 3-D Imaging Helps Archaeologists Preserve the Past | National Geographic

Pre-K - 11th
Archaeologist and National Geographic explorer Luis Jaime Castillo and archaeologist Carlos Wester are determined to protect the cultural heritage at the pyramid complex of Chotuna-Chornancap, which was built by the Sicán, or Lambayeque,...
Instructional Video3:56
National Geographic

How 3-D Imaging Helps Archaeologists Preserve the Past | National Geographic

Pre-K - 11th
Archaeologist and National Geographic explorer Luis Jaime Castillo and archaeologist Carlos Wester are determined to protect the cultural heritage at the pyramid complex of Chotuna-Chornancap, which was built by the Sicán, or Lambayeque,...
Instructional Video2:17
Curated Video

Decline of the Wari Empire

9th - Higher Ed
The Wari Empire declined gradually in the 10th century, as administrative centers were abandoned and buildings were symbolically closed. While the exact cause is unclear, possibilities include climate change, internal unrest, or the end...