Republic of
Peru
República del Perú
An Incan teenage mummy, nicknamed the Ice Maiden, was discovered in Peru’s
mountains in 1995, when a volcano melted the ice that was preserving her. She died
about five hundred years ago, probably as a sacrifice to the gods.
In the late 1800s, Peru made a lot of money by selling guano (bird droppings), which
is a great fertilizer.
A special reed that grows along Lake Titicaca floats so well that Native Americans
made islands out of the reeds and lived on them. Some people still live on these
floating islands today!
Lima has South America’s oldest university, the National University of San Marcos,
established in 1551.
The vicuña, an animal related to the llama, has wool so soft that in ancient times only
nobles were allowed to wear clothing made from it.
Peru has over 1,800 species of birds, more than in all of North America and Europe
combined.
Flag
General San Martin reportedly chose the colors of the Peruvian
flag during a battle for independence. He woke up from a nap
in the desert to see the flight of red-winged, white-breasted
flamingos, called parihuanas.
National Image
The symbol of the condor is seen everywhere in Peru. It’s on clothing,
blankets, pictures, and wall hangings. There’s even a song about it: “El
Condor Pasa.”
Land and Climate
Almost the same size as Alaska, Peru covers 496,226 square
miles (1,285,220 sq km) and is the third largest country in
South America. The country has three very different regions.
The first, called the costa, is a narrow plain along the coast.
Temperatures in this area are very mild. For instance, Lima
averages 65°F (18°C) year-round. Tall mountains called the
Andes jut up in the middle of the country. This region is
called the sierra. Some peaks there reach past 22,000 feet
(6,706 m). That’s higher than the highest mountain in all of North America! Animals
such as the llama live in this region. In the east, there’s the tropical Amazon Basin,
which the people there call the selva. The selva is home to many kinds of tropical
animals, such as the toucan.
Population
Peru has a population of 29.2 million people. About 45 percent of
Peruvians are descendants of the ancient Incas. Some of these
Native Americans live in the Amazon Basin, isolated from the rest
of the world. About 37 percent of the people are mestizo, with
mixed European and Native American ancestry. The rest of the
population includes Europeans (mostly Spaniards), Africans,
Japanese, Chinese, and others. Lima is the largest city, with
approximately eight million residents.
Language
Peru has not one but two official languages: Spanish and a Native American language
called Quechua. Another commonly spoken language is Aymara. Most of the people
speak Spanish, but some speak both Spanish and a Native American language.
However, about 30 percent of the popuation speaks only their Native American
language. It’s sometimes difficult for these people to communicate with others.
Can You Say It in Spanish?
Hello
Hola
(OH-lah)
Good-bye
Adiós
(ah-dee-OHS)
Please
Por favor
(POHR fa-VOHR)
Thank you
Gracias
(GRAH-see-ahs)
Yes
Sí
(see)
No
No
(noh)
Religion
The Roman Catholic Church was the state church until 1979. Although there is freedom
of religion, about 80 percent of Peruvians are still Roman Catholic. Around two percent
belong to other Christian churches, and the remainder belong to other churches or to
no church.
Time Line
AD 1500
AD
1500s
1525
The Incan Empire reaches its peak
1532
Pizarro invades the Incan Empire
1535
1541
1572
1600
1655
Lima becomes the new capital
Pizarro is killed by other Spaniards
The Incas are finally defeated
1780–81
Pizarro first lands in Peru
An earthquake wrecks Lima
Some of the natives rebel and are crushed by the
Spanish
1800
1814
1821
1824
1879–83
1900
1941
1968
The natives form another unsuccessful rebellion
against the Spanish
Peru declares its independence from Spain
General Simón Bolívar helps Peru win full
independence
Peru fights the War of the Pacific with Chile over land
boundaries
Peru wars with Ecuador over land boundaries
The government is taken over by the military
1975
1990
1992
Quechua is made an official language
Alberto Fujimori becomes president
The leader of the Shining Path guerrilla group is
captured
1993
The present constitution is adopted
1997
The leader of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary
Movement (MRTA) guerrilla group is killed
2000
2000
2001
2005
2007
PRESENT
The Incas
Fujimori escapes to Japan
Alejandro Toledo is elected the new president; he is
the first president of native Indian origin
Peru and the United States sign a free trade
agreement
A powerful earthquake strikes Peru’s coast, killing
hundreds of people and leaving thousands homeless
The Incas weren’t the first natives to live in Peru, but they
were some of the strongest. They conquered other Indian
tribes and took over their land. As great architects, they
could build magnificent buildings and walls without any
mortar, or cement. Instead, they cut each stone so perfectly
that it fit exactly with the stones around it. They also built
long, straight roads that connected their empire. However,
they fought among themselves. This weakened them, so they
were not strong when the Europeans came.
Conquered
Spaniard Francisco Pizarro first saw Peru in 1525. He was so
impressed with the wealth of the Incan Empire that he came back in
1532, but this time with an army to conquer the area. Through
trickery, Pizarro and his men captured and killed the Incan leader,
Atahualpa. Then they enslaved the people. Some of the Incas were
able to escape and run to the jungles of Peru, but all were finally
conquered by 1572.
Liberation
Like many of Spain’s colonies, the people in Peru wanted to govern
themselves. At different times, the natives rebelled and tried to free
themselves, but they were unsuccessful. A general named Simón
Bolívar had helped other South American colonies win their
independence from Spain. He brought his armies to help Peru, and
they finally defeated the Spanish in 1824.
Independence
All of Peru’s problems weren’t solved after it became independent. It
had 35 different rulers in the first 40 years. It also fought many wars,
which drained the country of money and other resources. In the 20th
century, rebel groups called guerrillas wanted to change the country.
They used bombing and kidnapping to get what they wanted. In the
1990s, President Alberto Fujimori helped capture the guerrillas’
leaders. Fujimori also helped the economy. However, he fled Peru
when his government was accused of corruption. Fujimori has since
been brought back to Peru, where he is now on trial for his alleged
crimes. With different leaders now in place, Peruvians hope their
government will work hard to improve the lives of all citizens.
Games and Sports
Peruvians love soccer, which they call fútbol. The whole
country watches anxiously when the national team competes
in the World Cup. Kids play soccer on the street and in many
other places. Bullfighting is a popular sport among some in
the upper class. Bullfighters dance around death as bulls
charge at them in the ring. Peru has one of the biggest and
oldest bullrings in South America.
Holidays
Many of Peru’s holidays are based on the main religion,
Roman Catholicism. Corpus Christi (meaning, "the body of
Christ") is a holiday that’s celebrated almost two months
after Easter. The people take statues of Catholic saints and
dress them up in rich costumes. Then they parade around
the streets with the saints on their shoulders. A popular
holiday that is not based on Catholicism is Independence
Day. People gather in the plaza de armas (town plaza) to
watch fireworks and listen to bands. Everyone usually gets a
one- or two-week break from school and work.
Food
People usually buy fresh food every single day, either at
corner stores (in cities) or at big open-air markets (in the
countryside). Rice, beans, corn, and fish are foods that you
might eat every day in Peru. You might also eat a
banana-like fruit called a plantain. Plantains have to be
cooked to be eaten. A flat bread called pan sobao is eaten
with most meals. Be sure to eat everything off your plate so
you don’t offend the cook!
Schools
Peruvian kids are supposed to go to primary and secondary
schools, just as you are. Not all kids end up staying in school
that long, especially if they are poor and need to help out the
family. But those who do stay in school have the opportunity
to go on to one of the country’s many universities. Students
in both public and private schools often have to wear
uniforms. They study the same subjects you might, such as
math, science, Spanish, and even English.
Life as a Kid
About two-thirds of Peruvian children live in cities. Most city kids go
to school. After they come home from school, they work on
homework, help around the house, and play with their friends and
family. They often live near their grandparents and their aunts,
uncles, and cousins. Some children who live in shantytowns (poor
sections of cities made up of shelters or huts) are too poor to go to
school. They must work to help support their families. Also, kids who
live in the countryside sometimes don’t go to school because they are
helping to farm their family’s land.
Government
President: Alan Garcia
Peru has an elected president, who serves for five years and then can run again for one
more term. Two vice presidents serve with the president. Laws are made by Congress
(120 members), and Peru also has a Supreme Court to make sure that the laws are
fair. All citizens age 18–70 are required to vote. The country has a fairly new
constitution. It was adopted in 1993. Peru is divided into 25 regions and the province of
Lima.
Money and Economy
Peru has had some serious money problems in recent years.
In 1990, the country’s inflation (a time of increasing prices)
was 7,600 percent! That means that Peruvian money was
barely worth anything. In comparison, inflation in the United
States usually stays around 2 to 3 percent. Recently, Peru
has been able to bring its inflation to less than 5 percent, but
there are still many poor people in the country. Peruvian money is called the nuevo sol.
Getting Around
Because gasoline is so expensive, most Peruvians ride the
bus, even if they own a car. In the cities, kids often walk or
ride their bikes. High in the mountains, people might walk or
ride an animal, since roads there often aren’t paved. Some
Native Americans in the Amazon Basin use canoes to get
from place to place. In fact, some areas can be reached only
by canoe!
Ruins
High in the mountains in southeastern Peru lie the ruins of
Machu Picchu. This ancient Incan city remains in almost
perfect condition. Temples, houses, and other stone buildings
are connected by stone walkways and green terraces. You
can hike for about 20 miles (32 km) or take a train to reach
it. Travelers come from all over the world to visit the ruins
and wonder about the people who once lived there.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Peru, Consular Section, 1700 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 833-9860; web site
www.peruvianembassy.us. Or contact the Commission for the Promotion of Peru; web
site www.peru.info/perueng.asp.
© 2009 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. It is against
the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by
any means without written permission from ProQuest.
Country Detail Map
Peru
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
Am a z o
n
Iquitos
A M A Z O N
B A S I N
Chiclayo
BRAZIL
A
D
Uca
N
yali
E
S
Huancayo
O
Lima
M
Lima is Peru’s capital and
largest city. Lima beans
get their name from
Lima, Peru, where early
European explorers first
discovered them.
Trujillo
The coast sees very little rainfall,
especially compared to the Amazon
Basin, which can average more than
100 inches (254 cm) a year!
U
MACHU PICCHU
N
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
T
A
I
N
S
Lake
Titicaca
BOLIVIA
Arequipa
Snow in some
areas of the Andes
never melts.
©2008 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University.
CHILE
Lake Titicaca is the
highest body of water in
the world that people
can navigate on.