The History of Lima - LimaEasy (c)

Limas History doesn’t only start with the foundation of the Colonial City…

Limas history doesn’t only start with the foundation of the colonial city by Francisco Pizarro in 1535. The area where we can find Lima City and Province today, was already inhabited many thousands years before that. The history of Lima before the Spanish colonization is full of rich and unique cultures, but also reflects a long process, where human kind develops its skills and makes the dessert stripe between Pacific Ocean and the Andes a habitable place and a green oasis.

The first inhabitants, who settled in the Lima area already around 10.000 years ago, were fishermen, hunter and gatherers who slowly began to discover and develop agriculture. From today’s Ancón in the north to Pucusana in the south and along the valleys of the three very important rivers (even for today’s Lima) Chillón, Rimac and Lurín small settlements with very simple huts arose during 8000 BC and 6000 BC. Archeological findings of stone instruments along the Chillón River can be associated with the ‘litico’ period (approx. 7500 BC) and are so far the oldest proofs of human existence in Peru.Nevertheless, the first real communities were located in the Chilca - Pucusana - San Bartholo area in the south (around 5500 BC to 4500 BC) and in the Ancón area (north).

The different Periods and Cultures in Lima, Peru from 2200 BC until the 21st Century

El Paraíso The Paradise (2200 BC) One of the first big settlements and ceremonial centers in the region was ‘El Paraíso’ (‘The Paradise’). The complex dates back to around 2200 BC. It is located north of the City of Lima about 2 km from the Pacific Ocean. An estimate of around 1500 to 3000 people lived in ‘El Paraíso’... Read more	The Chavín Culture (1200 BC to 200 AD) The first major culture in Peru, the Chavín culture emerged around 1200 BC from the Ancash region to the limeñan coast. The Chavín domesticated animals and plants and farmed irrigated areas around rivers and lagoons. Archaeological artifacts from the Chavín period include many objects... Read more	The Maranga or Lima Culture (200 AD to 700 AD) Around 200 AD a local culture arose in the zone of Maranga. This so called Maranga or Lima Culture lived at the beginning in the area of the today’s districts of Callao. Having adapted the agricultural and irrigation knowledge of the Chavín, these antique limeños brought great progress to the region... Read more

The Wari Culture (700 AD to 1200 AD) After overthrowing all other cultures like the Moche, Cajamarca, Recuay, Maranga (Lima Culture) and the Nazca, a new culture came from the Ayacucho region around 700 AD to the coast, the Wari or also known as Huari. With their strict social systems and despotic operations they soon dominated the whole Lima region... Read more	The Chancay Culture (1100 AD to 1440 AD) With the decline of the Wari Empire the era of kingdoms and regional confederations in the Lima region began. Social groups constituted regional states, but these changes first brought turbulent times with social agitation, political and cultural instability to the region. Regional chiefs came to power... Read more	The Incas (from the early 13th century) The Incas arose in the early 13th century. Their administrative, political and military center was located in Cuzco. The Incas peacefully assimilated or if necessary conquered huge parts of western South America with a strong army. The Incas not only tried to repress the people but also their unique cultures... Read more

Foundation and Colonization of Lima (1535 to 1821) On the 18th of January 1535 the conqueror Francisco Pizarro founded Lima on territories and temples of the leader Taulichusco next to the Rimac River. ‘Pizarro's Palace’, later subsequently called ‘Palace of the Viceroys of Peru’ and today ‘Presidential Palace’ was built on the site of Taulichusco's home. The Cathedral of Lima was build on the grounds of a religious temple... Read more	The Independence (1821) In December 1820 a rebel army under the leadership of the Argentinean José de San Martín defeated the Spaniards in the battle of Pisco and invaded Lima. From the north Simón Bolívar came to help. Finally on the 28th of July 1821 José de San Martín officially declared Peru’s independence at the Plaza Mayor or also known as Plaza de Armas in Lima... Read more	The War of the Pacific (1879 to 1883) The peace and slow recovery of Lima was disrupted by the beginning of the ‘War of the Pacific’ or also known as ‘Salpeter War’. It originated in a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over the mineral rich territory of the Atacama dessert and Bolivia’s access to the Pacific Ocean. The Peruvian Army was as Bolivia’s ally heavily involved in the war... Read more

The 20th Century By the end of the 19th century the exploitation of guano on the islands off the coast and the recovering economy brought the city of Lima again decent wealth and prosperity. From the 1890s to the 1920s Lima went through a process of urban renewal and expansion. Growth took place mostly towards the south, where for example the district of La Victoria emerged as a fast-growing neighbourhood... Read more	Quicklinks Lima History • El Paraíso - The Paradise • The Chavín Culture • The Maranga or Lima Culture • The Wari Culture • The Chancay Culture • The Incas • Foundation of Lima • The Independence • The War of the Pacific • The 20th Century • The 21st Century	The 21st Century After many years of complete deterioration Lima began to recover from its former bad image at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century. Since 1995 the municipality of Lima has been implementing a successful recovery plan for the historic center of Lima, which was declared a ‘Cultural Patrimony of Humanity’ by the UNESCO in 1996. The Municipality of Lima ‘cleaned’ the city center... Read more