History
By far, Peru is the richest archaeological country in South
America. Remains of archaeological sites are dispersed by all
sides, especially in the coast and highlands. Weather conditions
have made possible the good preservation of these sites. Reed
huts, stone-piled rooms, painted caves, mud cities, stoned fortress
and trails, are some of the different buildings we encounter
in our exciting trip along Peru. This ancient land, which date
from more than 20,000 years, is the "mecca" of archaeologists
and historians. Although pre-columbian people never left us
written sources; ceramics, textiles and metalwork designs have
greatly helped scientists to know more about their culture,
as well as the chronicles written after the conquest of the
fabulous Inca Empire.
Pre-Inca The oldest remains of human presence (nomadic hunter-gatherers)
have been found in the Piquimachay cave (Ayacucho) with a date
of 20,000-10,000 BC between its different settlements. Other
sites of this stage are Chivateros, Guitarrero, Cupisnique,
Lauricocha and Toquepala; places with caves paintings, stone
tools and plant seeds. The starting point of agriculture was
by 4,000-5,000 BC with crops of cotton, beans, corn, chili and
squash. Since 1,300 BC advanced cultures appeared, such as Chavín,
Paracas, Mochica, Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Wari and the regional states
of Chimú, Chincha and Chanka. This period lasted until
the 15th century where the Inca Empire reached its highest expansion.
Inca Having Qosqo (Cusco) as its capital, the Tahuantinsuyu
(Inca Empire) expanded till the areas of actual Ecuador, Colombia,
Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Pachacútec, the ninth Inca,
was a great conqueror and builder. Most of his work is visible
nowadays. After a century of life, the Tahuantinsuyu reached
its end when Huáscar and Atahualpa made a civil war for
being the successor of their Inca father Huayna Cápac.
By this time (1532), Pizarro, the spanish conqueror, returned
to Peru and took advantage of the situation. He captured, deceived
and executed Atahualpa. Although, Inca´s people resisted
for nearly 40 years, Spaniards finally defeated and put and
end to Inca Empire.
Colony & Independence With Incas destroyed and controlling
the spanish territory in South America, Pizarro founded Lima,
called since then the City of Kings, which became the center
of all political, social and commercial events in the continent.
The Viceroyalty of Peru, rich and powerful, had to fight against
those colonists who where tired of abuse and explotation of
indians. One of their leaders and Inca noble, Túpac Amaru
II, rebelled in 1780 but was defeated and put to death with
other leaders in Cusco. This happening, among other unsuccessful
uprisings, led the way to an independence aspiration. Emancipators
were helped by Argentinian General José de San Martín,
who declared Independence on 28 July 1821, and Venezuelan Liberator
Simón Bolívar, who finally was in charge of the
liberation of Peru with the decisive battle of Ayacucho on 9
December 1824. This last one, put an end to the presence and
rule of Spain in America.
Location and Geography Peru is located in the western
central coast of South America. It shares borders with Ecuador
(N), Colombia (NE), Brazil (E), Bolivia (SE) and Chile (S).
The West side, shared with the Pacific Ocean, is the main
border that has a length of 3,079.5 km. There are four major
natural regions: the 200 miles Peruvian Sea, a narrow coastal
strip, the high Andes mountains and the vast and plain Amazon
basin.
The Peruvian Sea area is called to that 200 miles (370km)
of territorial sea that runs parallel to the coast. Here,
the Pacific Ocean spreads a wealth of marine life, produced
specially by the effect of the Humboldt Current cold water
that encounters with the warm water of the El Niño
Current. This phenomenon allows the presence of plancton,
a microorganism (food for fishes) that has made this sea the
richest of the world.
In the Coast, la Costa, is settled the biggest part of the
population and the major cities. It is mainly a desert area
that is crossed by valleys of more than 40 rivers that run
down from the western Andes. This makes the coast an important
region for advanced agriculture. It was the stage of the main
pre-inca cultures. With the years it became the commercial
centre of the country and an important input place for inland
areas. The main products are cotton, rice, sugar, fruits,
wine and metallic minerals.
The Andes or Sierra is the high region that goes from 2,000
metres to 6,768 metres above sea level (Huascarán mountain).
It is divided in two main ranges: the Cordillera Occidental
and the Cordillera Oriental. The Andean area has an average
altitude of 3,000 metres and is full of plateaus, mountains,
glaciers, valleys, canyons and rivers. The mountains give
shape to an incredibly rugged surface. The Andes is a hard
place, but offers one of the best sceneries in the world.
The main products are potatoes, cereals and vegetables, and
activities like cattle-raising, mining and weaving.
The Amazon Basin or Selva comes down from the eastern slopes
of the Andes (2,000 to 84 metres) and covers more than 60%
of the country´s area with rainforest. It is a tropical
and almost uninhabited zone (no more than 5% of pop.) with
the most biodiverse jungle and full-flowing rivers in the
world. In the dense forest there is an explosion of life conformed
by thousands of species of flora and fauna, most of them,
unknown until today. The Amazonía is drained by the
three biggest rivers: Marañon, Huallaga and Ucayali
that together give birth to the Amazonas river, some kilometres
before Iquitos city. Wood is the principal product, as well
as rubber, rice, fruits, coffee, tea, petroleum and natural
gas.
Area Peru is the third largest country in South America
with an area of 1'285,216 km2. Comparing with some european
countries, Peru is twice the area of France, five times the
size of the UK, more than 30 times Netherlands or Switzerland
and the size of Norway, Sweden and Finland together.
Population and People
With a population of nearly 25 million, Peru has a wide ethnic
mixture composed mainly by a 54% Indian, 32% Mestizo, 12%
White and Spanish descent, 2% Black and Asian minority. The
minorities, who live basically in the city of Lima and the
coast, are immigrants who came from Asia (China, Japan), Africa
(western coast), Europe (Spain, Italy, England, Germany, France,
Switzerland, Israel, Polland, Belgium and Yugoslavia), North
America (United States) and Middle East (Arabia).
Capital City Lima, located in the central coast of Peru.
Has a population of over 7 million inhabitants.
Languages
Spanish and Quechua (Inka´s language) are the two official
languages in Peru. Although Spanish is the main one, Quechua
is widely spoken in the Andes as well as Aymara in the southern
Andes in the area of Lake Titicaca. In the Amazon there are
more than 70 natives languages, belonging each one to a ethnic
group. Some of the Andean people are bilingual (Quechua or
Aymara and Spanish). English is spoken in the main touristic
destinations and places.
Government
Peru is ruled by democracy. A constitutional President, the
chief of Executive Power, is elected every five years and
can be re-elected one term more. The Legislative Power is
based on a Congress of 120 members. The Judicial Power is
composed by two Courts. Voting is compulsory for every citizen
between 18 and 60 years old (militaries and police not allowed).
The country is divided in 24 departments and a Constitutional
Province, Callao.
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