The Huari (or Wari) was a Middle Horizon civilization that flourished in the southern Andes from about 500 to 1200 AD. The capital city is located near the modern city of Ayacucho, Peru. This city was the center of an empire that covered most of the highlands and coast of modern Peru. It was one of the first large empires in South America, following that of the Moche and contemporary with that of Tiwanaku. The Huari state established architecturally distinctive administrative centers in many of its provinces. Some 300 years after the Huari empire collapsed, Tahuantinsuyu became the dominant power in the Andean region.

The Huari empire also served as a model for the following Inca Empire. They already had a major road network set up thoughout their empire which served as an example to the mighty Inca empire. Also they had large religious centres sush as Pachacamac as a counterpart for Tihuanaco.