 Situated in Western Bolivia, the Tiwanaku empires' capital city also named Tiwanaku has been dated to as early as 1200 BC, where it originated as a small agricultural village.In around 400 AD the Tiwanaku empire began its expansion, appropriating the Yungas and establishing contacts with other cultures in Peru, Bolivia and Chile.By 600 AD it became an important regional power in the southern Andes.