History of Peru

Colonial History Back to top

The Spanish conquest was undoubtedly the worst disaster in Peruvian history. In 1550 the population of Peru was approximately 6 million, the majority living in the high Andes. By 1796 a combination of European disease, forced labour, starvation, murder, rape and pillage had reduced that number to 600,000.

" We found these kingdoms in such good order, and the Incas governed them in such a wise manner that throughout them there was not a thief, nor a vicious man...the motive which obliges me to make this statement is the discharge of my conscience, as I find myself guilty. For we have destroyed by our evil example, the people who had such a government as was enjoyed by these natives. They were…free from the committal of crimes or excesses, as well men as women” - The last survivor of the original conquistadors of Peru, Don Mancio Serra de Leguisamo, Sept. 18, 1589.

After the death of Atahuallpa, the Spanish installed his brother Manco Inca Yupanqui as the puppet Inca. He cooperated with the Spanish for several years while the Spanish fought to put down resistance in the north. Another of the conquistadors, Diego de Almagro, attempted to claim Cusco for himself after failing to conquer what is now Chile. Manco tried to use this feud between the Spanish his advantage and he recaptured Cusco in 1536. He failed to drive out the Spanish who defended the fortress of Sacsayhuaman above the city and he fled to Vilcabamba, via Ollantaytambo, as Spanish reinforcements took the city. He and his successors continued to rule a semi-independent Inca state, inciting revolts against the Spanish. He died when he was stabbed in the back while playing a game of horseshoes, by Almagro’s lieutenants, who he had given refuge to when Pizarro was hunting them. In 1572 the last Inca stronghold was discovered, and the last ruler, Túpac Amaru, Manco's son, was captured and beheaded in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. This ended all real resistence to the Spanish.

The Spanish rulers, led by the brutal governor, Toledo, cruelly repressed the indigenous people and their traditions. Many parts of the culture were systematically destroyed, including the sophisticated farming and astronomical systems. Almost every Inca building in Cusco was destroyed and a Spanish city was built over the old foundations, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman being dismantled and used as a stone quarry. They proceeded to colonize and exploit the former empire. The highly centralised Inca system worked to the advantage of the Spanish, as they had great control over the people once they had killed the ruling class of the Incas. The Spanish systematically worked the people to death, as a member of each family was forced to work in the mines. When that family member died, usually within a year, the family was required to send a replacement.

The major languages, Quechua and Aymara, were used by the Catholic Church to convert people. These languages were sometimes taught to groups who had originally spoken one of the other 700 indigenous languages of the Inca empire. Today, Quechua and Aymara remain the most widespread native languages in the region.

In 1780, the first major Incan rebellion against the Spanish for 200 years was led by the great grandson of Tupac Amaru, José Gabriel Condorcanqui, better known as Tupac Amaru II. The rebellion was suppressed, he was captured and tortured by the Spanish. In 1781, he was hanged, drawn and quartered in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, the same place where his great grandfather had been executed. Other revolts throughout Peru were suppressed and the Spanish systematically traced the other descendents of the royal Inca family – most were killed, or exiled to prison in Spain where they died.

Ancient | Inca | Back to Top | Independence | Modern