The Moche Civilization

Moche

The Unreadable Words of the Moche

They were master goldsmiths, magnificent weavers, and crafters of pottery that spoke, perhaps more than words could have. Nestled among the Andes Mountains, the Moche managed to survive in harsh climates exacerbated by difficult geography (G. And Smiley, 2004). Although they were miles away from the Old World civilizations in Mesopotamia, and did not manage to create the systems of writing that the Egyptians and Phoenicians developed, a discussion of the Moche's handicrafts and survival skills suggests that they were just as advanced as the ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians.

Though they may have had no formal system of communication, the Moche were able to communicate. In fact, their pottery shards depicting images of war, life events, and society may be more helpful to contemporary archeologists than the hieroglyphics or ancient cuneiform (G. And Smiley, 2004). As Backmund (nd: 4) states, just because one civilization is more complex than another, this does not necessarily mean that that civilization is better than the other. Regardless, Backmund (nd: 4) also admits that archeologists tend to admire the complex pottery and artwork that gives a picture of the civilization. This is exactly what the pottery and other handicrafts of the Moche did. The pots contained gruesome scenes of warfare and peasant torture at the hands of the "warrior-priests." Prisoners of war were tortured and killed by decapitation or strangulation, while the elite ruling class watched, adorned in glorious regalia (Fagan, nd: 121). While the pots tell this disgusting, but rich, story, the garments and ornaments of the ruling themselves communicate in whispers about the men who wore them both in life and in death. The elaborate headdresses adorned the withered skulls of the rulers, who once enjoyed much luxury at the cost of the peasants; and jewelry of gold, silver, and bronze adorned the ears, necks, chests, and mouths that had long since moldered to dust (Fagan, nd: 123). In addition to the excellence in craftsmanship displayed by the adornments, the chest plates and pendant designs featuring warriors further communicate the importance of war to the Moche civilization. Finally, clay figures of Moche warrior-priests and remnants of towering pyramids further emphasize the gulf that existed between the warrior-priests who benefited from the labor and intelligence of the peasant farmers (Fagan, nd: 123). Thus, the Moche's handicrafts communicate with the same or greater eloquence as the Old World civilizations of the Mesopotamia area. Through the expressive paintings on the Moche's pottery, fine crafted jewelry, and pyramids, in addition to the statues of warriors, archeologists can understand that the civilization followed strict economic guidelines, in the midst of a warrior culture.

In addition to their handicrafts, the Moche civilization's importance can be viewed through its survival skills. A combination of torrential rains and period of drought, finding food was a matter of Moche ingenuity. Like the Old World civilizations, the Moche depended on their own irrigation systems to water their crops. Regardless of the harsh climate, the Moche managed to do this quite well. Fagan (nd: 123-124) notes the excellence of the Moche farmers, how they were able to use the difficult terrain to their advantage, creating irrigation systems and using fertile soil. Despite the fact that natural disasters would eventually ruin the civilization, the Moche's honed survival skills could generally find them plenty of nourishment from their irrigated fields or relevant use of the oceans (Fagan nd: 123-125).

Besides farming, the Moche proved themselves far more than adequate warriors, able to survive in the midst of land disputes and other instances of conflict among neighboring tribes. Interestingly, the Moche managed to attain a sort of federalism, with several tribes ruling over different geographical areas, although they seemed to be ruled by a Moche Valley capital at Cerro Blaco (G. And Smiley, 2004). While this may suggest disorganization to some, it also rings of unmistakable pragmatism. Given the terrain of the land, a centralized state like that of Rome would have been nearly impossible for the Moche. Instead, this federal system represents an understanding of unification through diversity. And the spatial separation of the Moche rulers did not hinder their ability in war. Instead, the scenes on Moche pottery depict that they were far more than capable of dealing with their enemies.