Basics Population: 27 million Area: 1,280,000 square kilometres Currency: Nuevo Sol (£1=6.5 Nuevo Sol) Capital: Lima History People first lived in caves in Peru about 14,000 years ago. In around 4,000BC people started to grow crops such as cotton, beans, squash and chillies. The Chavin people introduced weaving and religion, but for some reason they disappeared completely around 300BC. By the 15th century the Incas had established an empire stretching from Ecuador to Chile. They built many large cities such as Machu Picchu. The people were mainly farmers and grew the same crops as the farmers in Peru do today. In 1528, Spanish explorers (led by Pizarro) arrived in Peru, then executed the Inca emperor and took control. Many of the Incas were soon killed off by overwork and strange Spanish diseases like smallpox. The Spanish stole large amounts of Inca gold and silver and took it back to Spain. At the same time they introduced their language and religion (Catholic). Thing were quite quiet for the next 200 years, but eventually the Indians got tired of being exploited by the Spanish. There was a rebellion in 1780, but it didn't work and the leaders were executed. Peru finally became independent in 1824. Since then it has fought wars with Spain, Chile and Equador and there has also been political unrest within Peru.