<P> The Inca Empire was preceded by two large - scale empires in the Andes : the Tiwanaku ( c. 300 -- 1100 AD ) , based around Lake Titicaca and the Wari or Huari ( c. 600 -- 1100 AD ) centered near the present - day city of Ayacucho . The Wari occupied the Cuzco area for about 400 years . Thus , many of the characteristics of the Inca Empire derived from earlier multi-ethnic and expansive Andean cultures . </P>
<P> The Inca Empire was preceded by two large - scale empires in the Andes : the Tiwanaku ( c. 300 -- 1100 AD ) , based around Lake Titicaca and the Wari or Huari ( c. 600 -- 1100 AD ) centered near the present - day city of Ayacucho . The Wari occupied the Cuzco area for about 400 years . Thus , many of the characteristics of the Inca Empire derived from earlier multi-ethnic and expansive Andean cultures . </P>
what two important civilizations preceded the rise of the inca
what two important civilizations preceded the rise of the inca
Tiwanaku Wari
Tiwanaku Wari