Final answer:
Tiwanaku was located near Lake Titicaca on the border between Bolivia and Peru and thrived from about 300 to 1150 CE. It was an advanced civilization known for its agricultural techniques, trade networks, and monumental architecture including stone structures adorned with 'trophy heads'. The city's decline may have been influenced by environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Site and Era of Tiwanaku
The ancient city of Tiwanaku is located near the southern shores of Lake Titicaca on the border between Bolivia and Peru. The city had its beginnings around 300 CE and continued to thrive until about 1150 CE. Tiwanaku was a significant urban center during its peak, possibly supporting up to 100,000 inhabitants. This civilization was well-adapted to its environment, engaging in sophisticated agricultural practices, such as flooded-raised field agriculture to grow crops like potatoes. They were also adept at llama herding and fishing in Lake Titicaca. Furthermore, they constructed large stone structures featuring numerous ‘trophy heads’, which may represent either important ancestors or gods of conquered groups. These structures and the advanced irrigation systems illustrate the Tiwanaku people's exceptional engineering and agricultural skills. Their trade networks extended widely, helping them maintain a diverse diet and influence over other cities and regions. The decline of Tiwanaku around 1000 CE may have been partially due to environmental changes, such as rising water levels in Lake Titicaca.