history of Peru

Introduction
The Incas
European exploration of Peru
Colonial period in Peru
Achievement of independence
Peru from 1824 to 1884
- Struggle for power
- Establishment of order
- The War of the Pacific (1879–83)
Peru from 1884 to 1930
- Social reforms and economic development
- Formation of the Aprista movement
Peru from 1930 to 1968
- Troubled democracy
- The dictatorship of Manuel Odría
- Return to elected government
Military rule in Peru (1968–80)
- Economic nationalism
- The second junta
Return to civilian rule
- The second Fernando Belaúnde Terry presidency (1980–85) and the rise of Shining Path and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
- The first Alan García Pérez presidency (1985–90)
- The rule, misrule, and flight of Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000)
- The Alejandro Toledo presidency (2001–06) and the extradition and imprisonment of Alberto Fujimori
- The second Alan García Pérez presidency (2006–11)
- The Ollanta Humala presidency (2011–16)
- The rise of Keiko Fujimori, the Pedro Pablo Kuczynski presidency (2016–18), and the Odebrecht scandal
- The short presidencies of Martín Vizcarra (2018–20), Manuel Merino (2020), and Francisco Sagasti (2020–21) and the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Pedro Castillo presidency (2021–22)
- The Dina Boluarte presidency (2022– )

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Flag of Peru with three vertical stripes, red on each side and white in the center, and a central coat of arms featuring a vicuña, cinchona tree, and cornucopia.

Political map of Peru showing its national boundaries with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, as well as the Pacific Ocean coastline. The map details major cities, regional divisions, and rivers across the country, with a small locator map highlighting Peru's position in South America.

Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui

Massive zigzag stone walls of the Inca fortress Sacsayhuaman rise above a grassy field, with people walking and the city of Cuzco visible in the background.

Francisco Pizarro

Black and white illustration of Atahuallpa, the last Incan emperor, standing with hands bound as a friar holds a cross before him, surrounded by armed Spanish soldiers and torches.

Map of the Americas in 1780 showing the Spanish and Portuguese viceroyalties. Spanish territories are shaded in green, including the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Viceroyalty of Peru, Viceroyalty of New Granada, and Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. Portuguese territory, labeled as the Viceroyalty of Brazil, is shaded in purple. Borders between Spanish and Portuguese lands are marked, with amendments from 1750 and 1778 indicated. British territory is shown in the northern part of North America. Ma

José de San Martín

Painting by Jose Gil de Castro of Simon Bolivar standing on a checkered floor, wearing an ornate black military uniform with gold embroidery and holding a sword.

Engraved portrait of Ramon Castilla with a prominent mustache and formal attire, his name printed in the lower right corner.

history of Peru: References & Edit History

More Articles On This Topic

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

Thomas M. Davies
Robert N. Burr
John Preston Moore
James S. Kus
Professor of Geography, California State University, Fresno.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Jeff Wallenfeldt

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	New article added.	Jeff Wallenfeldt	Aug 14, 2023