Text courtesy of: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/peru/history#ixzz2j9UhyXbI
Peru Overview
For many travelers, the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Peruvian history is ‘Inca.’ The he Inca civilization are the best-known and most-studied of South America’s pre-Columbian cultures. Yet Peru has so much pre-Columbian cultures, some preceding the Incas by millennia.
Peru is unequaled in South America for its archaeological wealth, and many archaeologists find Peru’s ancient sites and cultures extremely fascinating. Learning about and visiting these centuries-old ruins is the highlight of anyones journey, even for travelers with limited interest in archaeology.
What we know of Peru’s pre-Columbian civilizations has been gleaned almost entirely from archaeological excavation. With no written records available, archaeologists have had to derive historical information from the realistic and expressive decoration found on ancient ceramics, textiles and other artifacts. These relics are worth examining wherever they are on display in Peru’s many archaeological museums.
Peru is unequaled in South America for its archaeological wealth, and many archaeologists find Peru’s ancient sites and cultures extremely fascinating. Learning about and visiting these centuries-old ruins is the highlight of anyones journey, even for travelers with limited interest in archaeology.
What we know of Peru’s pre-Columbian civilizations has been gleaned almost entirely from archaeological excavation. With no written records available, archaeologists have had to derive historical information from the realistic and expressive decoration found on ancient ceramics, textiles and other artifacts. These relics are worth examining wherever they are on display in Peru’s many archaeological museums.
Inca History
The Inca empire really only existed for barely a century. The reign of the first eight kings spanned the period from the 12th century to the early 15th century. But prior to 1438, the Incas, a small tribe who believed themselves to have descended from the ancestral sun god Inti, ruled over only the valley of Cuzco.
It was the ninth king, Pachacutec, that gave the empire its first taste of conquest. A growing thirst for expansion had led the neighboring highland tribe, the Chankas, to Cuzco’s doorstep around 1438, and Viracocha Inca fled in the belief that his small empire was lost. However, his son Pachacutec rallied the Inca army and, in a desperate battle, he famously routed the Chanka. This marked the beginning of a remarkably rapid military expansion.
After his victory in Cuzco Pachacutec continued to take over much of the central Andes over the next 25 years. The Inca empire conquered most of the cultures in the area stretching from southern Colombia to central Chile, including also the Andean regions of Bolivia and northern Argentina. It was also during this time that mountaintop citadels were built, including Machu Picchu.
Like the many tribes before them, the Incas imposed their way of life on the peoples they conquered. When the Spanish arrived, most of the Andean area had under Inca rule. However given the resentment of many towards the Incas the Spaniards were able to successful invade.
It was the ninth king, Pachacutec, that gave the empire its first taste of conquest. A growing thirst for expansion had led the neighboring highland tribe, the Chankas, to Cuzco’s doorstep around 1438, and Viracocha Inca fled in the belief that his small empire was lost. However, his son Pachacutec rallied the Inca army and, in a desperate battle, he famously routed the Chanka. This marked the beginning of a remarkably rapid military expansion.
After his victory in Cuzco Pachacutec continued to take over much of the central Andes over the next 25 years. The Inca empire conquered most of the cultures in the area stretching from southern Colombia to central Chile, including also the Andean regions of Bolivia and northern Argentina. It was also during this time that mountaintop citadels were built, including Machu Picchu.
Like the many tribes before them, the Incas imposed their way of life on the peoples they conquered. When the Spanish arrived, most of the Andean area had under Inca rule. However given the resentment of many towards the Incas the Spaniards were able to successful invade.