About Perú
Perú
Tourists visiting Peru think firstly of the country’s ancient indigenous civilization – the Inca Empire that goes back to the 13th century. That pre-Columbian empire, during its height, covered not only Peru, but parts of Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia (centered on the Andean Mountain regions of these countries). Inca rule over these lands came to an abrupt end when Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, conquered that empire in 1533.
The Inca rulers’ accumulation of gold over time (used for religious purposes, as well as for personal jewelry) helped triggered the Spaniards’ sacking of the city of Cuzco (the heart of the Inca Empire). The gold (and silver) that was eventually extracted from Peru and Spain’s other South American colonies would be used to help cover the high costs of maintaining the Spanish Empire in the Americas. After the Spanish conquest was complete, the one-time Inca Empire became known as the Viceroyalty of Peru – with silver mining eventually being the main economic activity in that colony.
Peru would remain a vital part of the Spanish Empire until military campaigns led by South American pro-independence fighters José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar, which resulted in independence (in 1821). Like other South American countries during the 19th century, Peru went through its share of turmoil, including a war with neighboring Chile (War of the Pacific / 1879-83), which resulted in Peru’s loss of the provinces of Arica and Tarapacá.
Peru’s biggest challenges in the 20th century were the rise of political violence led by a pro-Marxist guerrilla group known as “Sendero Luminoso” (Shining Path), and the rising drug trade. As a result, Peruvian-Japanese politician Alberto Fujimori became president of the country (1990-2000) and rolled back the advances of Sendero Luminoso, and limited the impact of drug trafficking in the country. Amidst accusations of human rights abuses, though, Fujimori was forced to resign in 2000.
Nowadays, much of Peru’s limited economy still consists of mining, along with services and manufacturing. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism & travel, fueled in part by foreigners’ visits to the country’s famed Inca ruins, as well as eco-tourism, generated 8.9% of Peru’s GDP in 2013.