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History, society, religions and economy of Peru.
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Peru has an extraordinary history. It had the first and largest conurbations
on Earth for thousands of years. It was one of two global centres where major civilisations
arose, completely without contact with the rest of humanity. Aspects of the culture
remain somewhat parallel to the rest of the world.
We offer in depth reviews of the history and society of Peru, and examine the
archaeological phases which marked its prehistory. Many empires rose and fell,
leaving their cultural traces. The culmination of indigenous development was the
enormous Inca empire. This culture foreshadowed many subsequent controlling and
nominally benevolent totalitarian regimes.
The Incas remained in power for around a century, and fell to the Spanish conquest.
This event was catastrophic for the indigenous people: their population fell from
around eleven to perhaps one million by the Eighteenth century. The result is Peru
as it is today: socially complex, filled with deep currents which it is important
to understand if the ountry is to be properly appreciated.
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Peru is noted for the complexity and breadth of its spirituality. We trace the
many religious influences from their roots in the mountain culture of Chavín
and the coastal civilisations which followed it: Moche, Nazca, Chímu, Huari, Inca.
We study the important phenomenon of shamanism and the drug-and-drumming culture
that has grown around this in the Northern hills.
The Spanish conquest brought, of course, the Catholic religion. Peruvian Catholicism
has incorporated an extraordinary range of local customs and observances, a practice
which is known as 'syncretism'. The people who are shown below are celebrating
the (nominally Catholic) feast of the Virgin of Paucatambo. Rival groups, dressed
as shamanic spirit guides, demons and angels, battle over who shall be the custodian
of the miraculous Virgin for the coming year. Here, the demons salute their dead
ancestors. This festival goes on night and day for a week. To the uneducated outsider,
it can appear incomprehensible; yet is completely understandable - and hence more
enjoyable - if you know why people are doing the apparently strange things which
they are!
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We also give a broad overview of the economic, politics and social pressures
in the country. This may not be for everyone, but change has been radical and insight
into this is helpful to the visit. Villages which had no roads, electricity or
communications a generation ago now have the Internet and regular goods traffic.
Areas around the capital, where people once subsisted in cardboard structures that
were scattered up desert hillsides, have been developed into thriving townships.
Large areas of Northern aridity are now covered by artichoke, asparagus and pecan
nuts.
This transformation is doubly-remarkable because the country lived through -
and broke - one of the most irrational and difficult ideologies of recent years,
in the shape of the Sendero Luminoso. Many tens of thousands were killed
during the war, and over a million people were forced from their homes. Peru had
to solve this crisis during hyperinflation and the near collapse of the economy,
extraordinary malfeasance in government and an expansion of the drug industry into
the vaccuum created by the guerilla war. The visitor will understand that much
more if briefed on these events.