Peru — books & literature

The story of Peru

Peru's story stretches back to some of the oldest civilizations in the Americas, including the Caral-Supe culture that rose along the coast around 3000 BCE. Centuries of regional cultures , Chavín, Moche, Nazca, and Wari among them , preceded the rise of the Kingdom of Cusco around the 13th century, which under rulers like Pachacuti expanded into the Inca Empire, Tawantinsuyu, the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The Incas built Machu Picchu, a vast network of roads, and terraced agriculture across the Andes. In 1532 Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa, and Spain established the Viceroyalty of Peru, ruled from the new city of Lima. Peru declared independence in 1821 under José de San Martín, with Spanish rule finally ended after the Battle of Ayacucho in 1824. The republic endured a costly war with Chile from 1879 to 1883 and, in the late 20th century, a period of internal conflict. Today Peru is known worldwide for Machu Picchu, its Andean and Amazonian heritage, and a cuisine celebrated as one of the world's finest.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 3000 BCE

   Caral-Supe civilization flourishes on the coast, among the oldest known in the Americas.

2. circa 1200

   Kingdom of Cusco founded, the seed of what becomes the Inca state.

3. 1438

   Pachacuti begins the rapid expansion that creates the Inca Empire, Tawantinsuyu.

4. circa 1450

   Machu Picchu built as a royal estate in the Andes.

5. 1532

   Francisco Pizarro captures the Inca emperor Atahualpa at Cajamarca.

6. 1535

   Lima founded by Pizarro; becomes the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

7. 1821

   Independence declared by José de San Martín (28 July).

8. 1824

   Battle of Ayacucho secures full independence from Spain.

9. 1879-1883

   War of the Pacific against Chile ends in territorial loss for Peru.

10. 1911

    Hiram Bingham brings Machu Picchu to international attention.

Top 10 things to know about Peru

1. Machu Picchu, the Inca royal estate high in the Andes, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
2. Peru is home to over 3,000 native varieties of potato, more than anywhere else on Earth.
3. The Amazon rainforest covers more than half of Peru's territory.
4. Lake Titicaca, shared with Bolivia, is the highest navigable lake in the world.
5. The Nazca Lines are giant ancient geoglyphs best seen from the air, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
6. The Inca road system, Qhapaq Ñan, once linked the empire across tens of thousands of kilometres of the Andes.
7. Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara are official languages, reflecting deep Andean roots.
8. Peruvian cuisine, especially ceviche, is celebrated among the world's finest.
9. The Andes mountains run the length of the country, giving Peru coast, highland, and jungle regions.
10. Cusco was the sacred capital of the Inca Empire and remains a major cultural centre today.

Famous people from Peru

Say it in Peru's language

Did you know?

• ★Peru is home to over 3,000 varieties of potato, the plant's original birthplace.
• ★Lake Titicaca sits at roughly 3,800 metres above sea level, making it the world's highest navigable lake.
• ★The Nazca Lines are so large that many of their shapes are only recognisable from the air.

Peru culture

• Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun, is celebrated each June in Cusco with elaborate reenactments.
• Ceviche, raw fish cured in citrus with chili and onion, is Peru's national dish.
• Pisco, a grape brandy, is the base of the Pisco Sour, Peru's signature cocktail.
• Marinera is a national dance performed in courtship-style pairs, with regional variations across the country.

Why read Peru's books

Peruvian literature spans Inca oral tradition, colonial chronicles, and a modern canon crowned by a Nobel laureate , a heritage worth exploring on the shelves below.