| PERU: |
| The History, Culture, |
| and Economy |
The first evidence of human life in what is now
Peru dates back to about 14,000 years ago. The first
inhabitants of Peru were nomadic hunter-gatherers
who lived in caves in Peru's coastal regions. The
oldest site, Pikimachay cave, dates from 12,000 BC.
By 2000 BC, the inhabitants of this area fished,
cultivated cotton (used for clothing, initially by twining
and later by weaving), and grew chili peppers, beans
squash, and corn. During the centuries that followed,
several cultures rose and fell.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_ameri
ca/peru/history.htm
Peru dates back to about 14,000 years ago. The first
inhabitants of Peru were nomadic hunter-gatherers
who lived in caves in Peru's coastal regions. The
oldest site, Pikimachay cave, dates from 12,000 BC.
By 2000 BC, the inhabitants of this area fished,
cultivated cotton (used for clothing, initially by twining
and later by weaving), and grew chili peppers, beans
squash, and corn. During the centuries that followed,
several cultures rose and fell.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_ameri
ca/peru/history.htm
The great Inca Empire lasted for
about a century. The Incas had no
written language and their history was
entirely oral, passed down through the
generations. The small tribe they
governed was one of several groups
living in the Andean highlands during
the 13th and 14th centuries. These
Incas left few signs of their existence,
though the remains of some of their
palaces can still be seen in Cuzco.
about a century. The Incas had no
written language and their history was
entirely oral, passed down through the
generations. The small tribe they
governed was one of several groups
living in the Andean highlands during
the 13th and 14th centuries. These
Incas left few signs of their existence,
though the remains of some of their
palaces can still be seen in Cuzco.
The 9th Inca ruler, Pachacutec, began the empire's great
expansion. Until his time, the Incas had dominated only a small
area close to Cuzco, frequently skirmishing with, but not
conquering, various other highland tribes. One such tribe, the
expansionist Chancas. occupied a region about lS0 hen east of
Cuzco and, by 1438 was on the verge of conquering Cuzco.
Viracocha Inca and his eldest son, Urcon, believed that their
small empire was lost but Viracocha Inca's third son refused to
give up the fight. With the help of some of the older generals he
rallied the Inca army and, in a desperate final battle, managed to
rout the Chancas. http://www.travelvantage.com/per_his.html
expansion. Until his time, the Incas had dominated only a small
area close to Cuzco, frequently skirmishing with, but not
conquering, various other highland tribes. One such tribe, the
expansionist Chancas. occupied a region about lS0 hen east of
Cuzco and, by 1438 was on the verge of conquering Cuzco.
Viracocha Inca and his eldest son, Urcon, believed that their
small empire was lost but Viracocha Inca's third son refused to
give up the fight. With the help of some of the older generals he
rallied the Inca army and, in a desperate final battle, managed to
rout the Chancas. http://www.travelvantage.com/per_his.html
According to legend, the unexpected victory was won because the
boulders on the battlefield fumed into warriors and fought on the side of
the Inca. The victorious younger son changed his name to Pachacutec
and proclaimed himself the new Inca over his father and elder brother.
Buoyed by his victory over the Chancas he began the first wave of the
expansion which was to eventually create the Inca Empire. During the
next 25 years, he conquered most of the central Andes between the two
great lakes of Titicaca and Junin. Huayna capac, the 11th Inca was the
last to rule over a unified empire. By this time, Europeans had discovered
the new world and various epidemics started sweeping down on the
Empire. A civil war also erupted.
boulders on the battlefield fumed into warriors and fought on the side of
the Inca. The victorious younger son changed his name to Pachacutec
and proclaimed himself the new Inca over his father and elder brother.
Buoyed by his victory over the Chancas he began the first wave of the
expansion which was to eventually create the Inca Empire. During the
next 25 years, he conquered most of the central Andes between the two
great lakes of Titicaca and Junin. Huayna capac, the 11th Inca was the
last to rule over a unified empire. By this time, Europeans had discovered
the new world and various epidemics started sweeping down on the
Empire. A civil war also erupted.
The empire's main
expansion occurred in
the 100 years or so
prior to the arrival of the
conquistadors. Our
knowledge of their
history dates back to
the "chronicles" which
included accounts of
Inca history as related
by the Incas to the
Spanish chroniclers.
expansion occurred in
the 100 years or so
prior to the arrival of the
conquistadors. Our
knowledge of their
history dates back to
the "chronicles" which
included accounts of
Inca history as related
by the Incas to the
Spanish chroniclers.
As a mighty military figure, historians have
frequently compared Pachacutec to the likes of
Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. He was
also a great urban developer. Pachacutec devised
the city's famous puma shape and diverted the
Sapphi and Tullumayo rivers into channels which
crossed the city, keeping it clean and providing it
with water. He built agricultural terraces and many
buildings, including the famous Coricancha temple
and his palace on what is now the western corner
of the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.
frequently compared Pachacutec to the likes of
Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. He was
also a great urban developer. Pachacutec devised
the city's famous puma shape and diverted the
Sapphi and Tullumayo rivers into channels which
crossed the city, keeping it clean and providing it
with water. He built agricultural terraces and many
buildings, including the famous Coricancha temple
and his palace on what is now the western corner
of the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.
The empire's main
expansion occurred in
the 100 years or so
prior to the arrival of the
conquistadors. Our
knowledge of their
history dates back to
the "chronicles" which
included accounts of
Inca history as related
by the Incas to the
Spanish chroniclers.
expansion occurred in
the 100 years or so
prior to the arrival of the
conquistadors. Our
knowledge of their
history dates back to
the "chronicles" which
included accounts of
Inca history as related
by the Incas to the
Spanish chroniclers.
By the autumn of 1532, however, the Spaniard
Pizarro was in northern Peru, the great warrior
Atahualpa Inca had defeated his rival Huascar, and
a fateful meeting was arranged between the Inca
and Pizarro. The meeting, which took place on 16
November 1532, was to change the course of
South American history. The Inca was ambushed
by a few dozen armed conquistadors, who
succeeded in killing thousands of unarmed Indians
and routing tens of thousands more. The conquest
of the Incas had begun.
Pizarro was in northern Peru, the great warrior
Atahualpa Inca had defeated his rival Huascar, and
a fateful meeting was arranged between the Inca
and Pizarro. The meeting, which took place on 16
November 1532, was to change the course of
South American history. The Inca was ambushed
by a few dozen armed conquistadors, who
succeeded in killing thousands of unarmed Indians
and routing tens of thousands more. The conquest
of the Incas had begun.
After holding Atahualpa Inca prisoner and then murdering him,
the Spaniards marched into Cuzco. The superior Spanish
weaponrywas quite effective: mounted on horseback, protected
by armor, and swinging steel swords, the Spanish cavalry was
virtually unstoppable. The Spaniards hacked dozens of
unprotected Indian warriors to death during a battle. The Indians
responded with their customary weapons - clubs, spears,
slingshots and arrows - but these were rarely lethal against the
mounted, armor-plated conquistadors. Pizarro himself entered
Cuzco on 8 November 1533 after winning a series of battles.
http://www.travelvantage.com/per_his.html
the Spaniards marched into Cuzco. The superior Spanish
weaponrywas quite effective: mounted on horseback, protected
by armor, and swinging steel swords, the Spanish cavalry was
virtually unstoppable. The Spaniards hacked dozens of
unprotected Indian warriors to death during a battle. The Indians
responded with their customary weapons - clubs, spears,
slingshots and arrows - but these were rarely lethal against the
mounted, armor-plated conquistadors. Pizarro himself entered
Cuzco on 8 November 1533 after winning a series of battles.
http://www.travelvantage.com/per_his.html
Modern Peru is South
America’s third largest country,
covers 1.29 million square
kilometers, and is essentially
divided into three distinct
geographic regions: the central high
sierra of the Andes Mountains, a
narrow lowland coastal region
(where Lima is located), and the
dense forest that surrounds the
headwaters of the Amazon beneath
the Eastern slopes of the Andes.
America’s third largest country,
covers 1.29 million square
kilometers, and is essentially
divided into three distinct
geographic regions: the central high
sierra of the Andes Mountains, a
narrow lowland coastal region
(where Lima is located), and the
dense forest that surrounds the
headwaters of the Amazon beneath
the Eastern slopes of the Andes.
Peru's population of about 23 million is divided
almost equally between the highlands and the
population centers of the coast, and the division
marks a sharp cultural as well as geographic divide.
Almost half of Peru's people are Indian, while
another one third or so are mestizo. About ten
percent are of European descent, and there are
significant African and Asian minorities. Although
Spanish is Peru's official language, a multitude of
indigenous languages continue to be used in certain
areas.
http://www.geographia.com/peru/peruhistory.htm
almost equally between the highlands and the
population centers of the coast, and the division
marks a sharp cultural as well as geographic divide.
Almost half of Peru's people are Indian, while
another one third or so are mestizo. About ten
percent are of European descent, and there are
significant African and Asian minorities. Although
Spanish is Peru's official language, a multitude of
indigenous languages continue to be used in certain
areas.
http://www.geographia.com/peru/peruhistory.htm
The
main
threat to
domestic
stability
remains
unemploy
ment and
poverty,
despite
Peru's
fast-growi
ng
economy.
main
threat to
domestic
stability
remains
unemploy
ment and
poverty,
despite
Peru's
fast-growi
ng
economy.
Peruvian music is almost
entirely folk music, while its
literature encompasses
everything from
independence-inspired polemic
to the anarchic individualism of
its many poets and the boyhood
reveries of the internationally
renowned author Mario Vargas
Llosa.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/de
stinations/south_america/peru/cu
lture.htm
entirely folk music, while its
literature encompasses
everything from
independence-inspired polemic
to the anarchic individualism of
its many poets and the boyhood
reveries of the internationally
renowned author Mario Vargas
Llosa.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/de
stinations/south_america/peru/cu
lture.htm
The main religion is Roman
Catholicism, though the Indians,
while outwardly Catholic, often
blend Catholicism with traditional
beliefs. Spanish is the main
language. In the highlands, most
Indians are bilingual, but speak
Quechua as their mother tongue.
There are about 70 other
languages, and in remote parts of
the Amazon, Spanish is rarely
spoken.
Catholicism, though the Indians,
while outwardly Catholic, often
blend Catholicism with traditional
beliefs. Spanish is the main
language. In the highlands, most
Indians are bilingual, but speak
Quechua as their mother tongue.
There are about 70 other
languages, and in remote parts of
the Amazon, Spanish is rarely
spoken.
The economy in Peru has
grown recently. With a per
capita income of $4,400 and a
GDP of $138 billion (compare
to the USA at $11 trillion
GDP), the Peru economy is the
47th largest in the world, and is
smaller than Romania, Vietnam,
Ukraine, Argentina, and others.
The main industries are mining,
fishing, metallurgy, textiles,
food, chemicals, and
tourism. Poverty remains a
huge problem in Peru, with
15.5% of the population
surviving on less than $1 per
day.
grown recently. With a per
capita income of $4,400 and a
GDP of $138 billion (compare
to the USA at $11 trillion
GDP), the Peru economy is the
47th largest in the world, and is
smaller than Romania, Vietnam,
Ukraine, Argentina, and others.
The main industries are mining,
fishing, metallurgy, textiles,
food, chemicals, and
tourism. Poverty remains a
huge problem in Peru, with
15.5% of the population
surviving on less than $1 per
day.
Healthcare in Peru is
inadequate. The infant
mortality rate is higher in
Peru than it is in Honduras,
Vietnam, or Nicaragua.
Life expectancy at birth for
a male in Peru is 62 years,
while it is more than 77
years in Switzerland and
Japan. A majority of the
population cannot obtain
essential medications.
inadequate. The infant
mortality rate is higher in
Peru than it is in Honduras,
Vietnam, or Nicaragua.
Life expectancy at birth for
a male in Peru is 62 years,
while it is more than 77
years in Switzerland and
Japan. A majority of the
population cannot obtain
essential medications.