Final answer:
The earliest civilization in South America is the Chavín culture, which began around 900 BCE and influenced subsequent civilizations such as the Moche, Nazca, and Tiwanaku. (option b)
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest civilization identified in South America is known as the Chavín culture. This culture began to flourish around 900 BCE in the Andes region of South America, solidifying its place in history during the Early Horizon period. The Chavín are celebrated for their distinctive pottery style and significant contributions to the cultural and religious traditions of the region. Though the Chavín culture's influence declined around 200 BCE, it paved the way for subsequent civilizations, including the Moche, the Nazca, and the Tiwanaku, to emerge and develop their own unique traditions and innovations.
Each of these civilizations expanded on the Chavín's foundation, cultivating advanced agricultural practices, art, manufacturing, and trade. The Moche culture, known for its rich iconography and architecture, thrived in Peru's northern coast from around 200 to 900 CE. Parallel in time, the Nazca civilization emerged in southern Peru around 200 BCE, renowned for their intricate geoglyphs and effective irrigation systems in a challenging arid environment. Meanwhile, the Tiwanaku culture arose near Lake Titicaca, demonstrating their propensity for major construction projects dating back to roughly 200 BCE, with a significant building period commencing around 100 CE.