Viceroyalty of Peru

The Viceroyalty of Peru (Spanish: Virreinato del Perú), officially known as the Kingdom of Peru (Spanish: Reino del Perú), was a Spanish area in South America. It was created in 1542. It included modern-day Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in South America. It was ruled from the city of Lima. From the 1500s to the 1700s, Peru was one of two Spanish areas called viceroyalties in the Americas. The other was the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

The Spanish did not stop the Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the line set by the Treaty of Tordesillas. For a time, from 1580 to 1640, Spain controlled Portugal. Later, new areas called the Viceroyalties of New Granada and Río de la Plata were created. This took away some of Peru’s land. It also moved trade from Lima to Buenos Aires. The loss of mining and textile work also weakened the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Finally, the Viceroyalty of Peru ended. This happened as countries in the area began to want independence from Spain in the early 1800s. These independence movements led to the creation of several modern countries. These included Chile, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, as well as Peru.

History

Conquest of Peru

Main article: Spanish conquest of Peru

After the Spanish conquest of Peru, Charles V gave the people who conquered the land special rights. They were allowed to govern and make laws in the places they had claimed. Before the Viceroyalty of Peru was created, many large areas were already under Spanish control.

Exploration and settlement (1542–1643)

In 1542, the Spanish organized their lands into the Viceroyalty of Peru to better manage their holdings in South America. The first viceroy arrived in 1544. Later leaders worked to make the region stronger. They built forts, improved trade, and created new rules for everyone living there.

The last Spanish Habsburgs (1643–1713)

During this time, Peru had to face attacks from pirates and protect its coasts. Leaders built walls and made defenses stronger. There were also uprisings by local people and natural challenges, such as earthquakes.

The Bourbon Reforms (1713–1806)

Main article: Bourbon Reforms

In the early 1700s, changes were made to improve how Peru was governed. New areas were added and removed, and leaders focused on trade, mining, and growing the economy. Earthquakes caused damage, and there were tensions with local people.

End of the Viceroyalty (1806–1824)

See also: Peruvian War of Independence

In the early 1800s, Peru became an important place in the struggle for independence from Spain. Leaders worked to bring freedom to the region, facing Spanish forces. Battles were fought, and finally, Peru won its independence, ending Spanish rule.

Politics

The town of Lima, founded in 1535, became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. As the main city for the Spanish in South America, Lima became very important. During the 16th, 17th, and most of the 18th centuries, much of the wealth from South American silver mines passed through Lima on its way to Spain.

The viceroyalty was divided into smaller areas called audiencias. These were mainly courts but also had some administrative roles. These areas were further split into smaller groups called provinces, each led by a governor. Some areas faced military threats and were grouped into captaincies, like Chile. Over time, new administrative changes were made, introducing officials called intendants who had broad powers.

Economy

The economy of the Viceroyalty of Peru was mainly based on silver mining. Large amounts of silver were sent to Europe, which changed the prices there. Silver was mined by different kinds of workers, including people who were paid and others who worked under an old system.

Gold and silver from the Andes made Peru very rich and powerful. The first coins made in South America appeared in Peru between 1568 and 1570. Some of this silver was used to pay for armies and build forts, and it was also traded with local people.

Over time, the Spanish allowed people in Peru to buy important jobs, which sometimes led to problems with less effective government.

Main article: Price revolution

Demographics

When the Spanish arrived in Peru, many people lived there. Sadly, many became very sick from diseases they had never seen before. Over time, the number of people living there grew smaller.

The Spanish changed many cities, giving them new names and building them in their own way. They built centers with open spaces and churches. Some cities, like Cusco, still show parts of the old stonework from before. The Spanish sometimes let local leaders keep special titles if they could show their family history. The first official count of people in Peru happened in the 1790s.

Culture

See also: Culture of Peru, Cuzco School, Andean Baroque, and Peruvian Viceroyal architecture

During the Viceroyalty of Peru, many important cultural advances happened. Leaders like Viceroy Francisco de Borja y Aragón helped improve education. They reorganized the University of San Marcos and created new teaching jobs. New schools opened, like the Naval Academy and the Botanic Garden of Lima.

Artists and writers did well during this time. The first books and theater in Peru were made, and literary meetings took place in Lima. Important people like the artist Diego Quispe Tito and the saint Rose of Lima became famous. These cultural changes helped shape the history and identity of Peru.

Science

In 1737, Spanish scientists Jorge Juan y Santacilia and Antonio de Ulloa came to Peru. They were sent by the French Academy to measure the Earth near the equator and to learn about the government's problems. They shared what they found later.

From 1777 to 1788, another group studied the plants of Peru and Chile. Their work helped make farming and trade better in the area. Other scientists from France also helped with science in Peru at this time.