Peru’s Cultural Identity: The Incas, The Spaniards, and Subsequent Immigration

There is more to learn about Peru than just what the Incas left behind, or how Spaniards affected the people. There is even more to know than just that Peru is the site of one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. From the time man first learned how, people have found a way to travel to Peru.

Beginning about 3000 BCE the Norte Chico built cities in Peru. While archeologists originally believed they were a fishing society, new discoveries have shown older cities inland from the sea. The Norte Chico or Caral were a pre-ceramic civilization and are considered to have been one of the seven cradles of civilization in the world. This early society left platform mounds and sunken circular plazas behind to remind us of their passing.

The Inca culture rose to prominence after the Caral and much of the Incan influence on the Peruvian society is still felt in their efforts to maintain their independence from other nations and their wonderful sense of the world. In fact, Peruvian artisans honor this influence in the fine jewelry they craft from native elements of their lands.

The first thing any child learns of Peru is of the Spanish conquest. This was a dark time for the Peruvian people as they were enslaved and forced to work in their own silver mines for someone else’s profit. Along with the Spanish came people travelled from Africa and Asia to settle and become part of life in Peru.

Peru has struggled since the late eighteen hundreds to secure and preserve their nation. Despite economic, financial, and political obstacles they’ve never lost sight of their dream. Today, as more of their artisans are exporting their work for profit, and more people strive to find a way to travel to Peru to experience this nation’s rich and diverse history, their dream is slowly being realized.