The+Viceroyalty+of+Peru

Viceroyalty of Peru The Viceroyalty of Peru was the most important and most valuable settlement obtained by the Spanish Empire. The Viceroyalty was a colonial governing body in control of Peru from 1542 to 1824. Peru was essential in Spanish development and expansion through South America. The Incan capital of Cusco was moved to Lima by Francisco Pizarro because of its valuable location and reliability as a major port for the Spanish Empire. The Spanish quickly discovered a plethora of minerals, precious metals, and indigenous people. New found wealth caused Spanish exploitation and the implementation of the “Encomienda”. The Encomienda was an enslavement system used by the Spanish when they conquered new regions. Eventually, the indigenous groups in the Amazon and Andean Mountain were driven to extreme lows. One mission in 1628 even led to the enslavement of around 60,000 indigenous people. The purpose of the conquest was to spread Spanish beliefs and to conquer new lands in the name of Spain. Without a doubt, Spanish rule has proven to be extremely influential, as a large portion of Central and South America exhibit traits of Spanish influence. The Spanish language, culture, and religion heavily dominate the Peruvian society today. Spanish rule over Peru lasted for almost 300 years which resulted in a drastic remodeling of the entire country. Peru would develop into a rich and diverse cultural zone home to many people. Spanish is the official language of Peru and is the most commonly used language followed by Quechua and Aymara. Indigenous cultures still co-exist in the Andean Mountain Range and through the Amazon basin.

By Bobby Cortesi