AgPage International Consulting

2500 B.C. - Small villages inhabited by farmers and fisherman sprung up in the fertile valleys on the north coast of Peru. These people lived in adobe houses, cultivated potatoes and beans, fished, and grew and wove cotton for their own clothing.

1300 B.C. - The cultivation of corn and irrigation is introduced. These two factors lead to a stable and later surplus food supply and were critical to the development of the more advanced civilizations that followed.

950-450 B.C. - The Kingdom of Chavin prospers in the northern Highlands. Chavin’s society was more religious than political, and spread it’s beliefs in missionary style throughout what is now, north-central Peru. The apparent headquarters was Chavin de Huantar, now a ruins located in the Ancash Highlands. Chavin was then believed to be the center of the world.

1-1000 A.D. - Several localized cultures rise and fall in Peru, including the Gallinazo, Mochica, Paracas, Nazca, and Chimu. Although all were important in their own rite, the Mochia and Chimu warrant the most study.

1000- The Mochia occupied a 136 KM long area along the Rio Moche Valley. The Mochia are remembered for the impressive irrigation systems they built that transformed desert into fertile fields capable of supporting a population of over 50,000. The Mochia also are known for metalwork, ceramic pottery, and pyramid construction.

1150-1450- The Chimu occupy the coasts of what is now Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. The Chimu capital was Chan Chan, which was near present day Trujillo, and had a population estimated at 100,000.

1300 - The Incas, originally a small ethnic group during other early societies reign, began to expand and incorporate their neighbors. Their greatest expansion occurred under the great Inca emperor Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438-1471). Under he and his sons rule, the Incas came to control over 1/3 of South America. Yupanqui proclaimed himself "God of the Sun", and ruled from the Inca city of Cusco. The Incas reached their maximum size in the early 16^th century. During the Inca reign, their primary achievement was the expansion of the culture itself, but little "technology" was added. In fact, all the Inca’s conquests were achieved without the aid of a written language, instead relying on a knot-tying system for record-keeping. The Incas did manage to bring 4 times the amount of land into cultivation that is now cultivated in present day Peru. Just prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, a 5 year civil war rocked the Inca Empire, providing a "moment of opportunity for the Spanish conquistadors".

1532 The Spanish Conquest. Francisco Pizarro arrived at Cajamarca, the Inca summer residence, with 180 men and defeated the Inca forces consisting of 5000-6000 warriors. The conquistadors utilized the cavalry, the cannon, and Toledo steel. The Inca’s were armed with stone-edged battle axes and slings. Pizarro later ransomed over 11 tons of gold in return for a promised release of the Inca leader Atahualpa, then broke his promise and executed Atahulapa by garroting.

1533 Pizarro captures Cusco, the Inca’s imperial city

1535 Los Reyes (City of Kings) or Lima, is founded by Pizarro

1541 Pizarro is assassinated by rival Spanish foes.

1545 Silver is discovered at Potosi in Upper Peru.

1541-1572 Civil Turmoil reins among the Spanish invaders.

1572 Tupac Amaru, the last reigning Inca, is tried and beheaded by the Spanish at Cusco

1550-1824 A demographic collapse of the indigenous population occurs. Some estimates place the drop in native American population between 1548-1570 at over 67%, falling from 8.3 million to 2.7 million.

1650 The population at Potosi reaches 160000, making it one of the largest cities in the then, present day Western world.

1780-1782 Tupac Amaru II rebellion

Dec. 9, 1824 General Antonio Jose de Sucre Alcala defeats royalist forces at Ayacucho to end Spanish rule

1845-1870 The Guano Era. Over 12 million tons of Guano, bird droppings from birds located on the Chincha Islands, was exported to North America and Europe for use as a fertilizer, before it’s depletion.

1859-1860 A war with Ecuador (which Peru won) over disputed territory bordering he Amazon

1866 The war with Spain over the Chincha Islands (which Peru also won).

1879-1883 The War of the Pacific. Peru fought as an ally of Bolivia against Chile (Peru lost territory to Chile in the peace settlement).

1883-1979 Peru is governed by a long line of dictators, with coups to mark the transitions between factions.

1980 Democratic rule returns to Peru with the election of Belaunde

1980 The Sendero Luminoso or The Shining Path guerrilla/terrorist organization appears.

1990 Fujimori is elected President

1992 Fujimori stages bloodless "self-coup"

Oct. 1993 A new Constitution is adopted