In India, a popular trivia about a movie of Superstar Rajnikanth is that it was shot in Machu Picchu, one of the seven new wonders of the world. But not many would be aware that Peru is the country where Machu Picchu is located. Even fewer would have had the chance to visit it. I was fortunate to spend a couple of weeks there during December 2023. I was inspired by its antiquity, history, and natural beauty. I have attempted to share my experiences through this book.
I am of the opinion that visiting a place is just one part of experiencing it. If we have some background on the places we visit, it would provide a context to what we see. I have attempted to provide that introduction to Peru through this book. I have not intended for this to be a complete and detailed work on the history or geography of Peru. But if it inspires a few to learn more about Peru or even visit it, then I consider it a success. I hope this book meets that expectation.
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When we think of Peru, the first things that come to our mind are the Inca civilization and Machu Picchu. But they are only the last link in a long chain. There has been a continuous human presence in this area for over twenty thousand years. Several civilizations, such as the Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Wari, and Moche, preceded the Incas in Peruvian history. The ongoing archaeological excavations help us better understand these ancient civilizations. Most scientists believe that humans made their way from Asia through North America into South America. They first settled in the northern and central coastal areas of Peru. The stone tools found in the Pikimachay caves in the Ayacucho area date the human settlements in the area to around 12,000 years BCE. Some cave paintings have also been discovered in this area. Human remains found in this area have been dated to 7,000 years BCE.
The oldest urban settlement found to date in Peru is in Caral. This city was spread over one hundred a fifty acres and was established over five thousand years ago. At its peak, it had a population of over twenty thousand people. The city appears to have been deserted after about a thousand years for reasons unknown. It is supposed that the migration could have happened because of earthquakes or climatic changes. Let us briefly take a look at the civilizations after this period.
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Spanish
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Enrique Mota Castro and Rebeca Lescano
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