Peru: History

Peru was home to numerous advanced pre-Columbian civilizations, most notably the Inca Empire, which by the fifteenth century had become the largest empire in the Americas, with its capital at Cusco and an extensive road network connecting the Andes.

Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in the 1530s, establishing the Viceroyalty of Peru, which became the center of Spanish colonial power in South America. Peru declared independence in 1821, though full independence was not secured until 1824 following the decisive battles of Junín and Ayacucho.

The twentieth century saw periods of military rule alternating with democratic governance, along with an internal conflict against the Shining Path insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s. Peru has since pursued economic growth and political stabilization, though it has also experienced significant political turbulence in recent years.