ABSTRACT
This chapter examines theories of state formation to deal with three Central Andean cultures. The first of these is Chavin, which developed in the highlands and coast of north-central Peru. The second culture is Moche, which developed entirely on the north coast. The third culture is the Inca, whose initial development occurred locally in the Cuzco area of the southern Peruvian highlands. The chapter presents selected data on the coastal valley setting as one: of the contexts appropriate for the rise of prehispanic sociopolitical complexity, followed by an overview of the unique features that characterize the adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean. It outlines the main elements of Moseley's maritime model before going on to critique it. The chapter also examines Robert Carneiro's arguments about the rise of state societies as a function of circumscribed environmental contexts and internecine war.
