Peru has a rich history going back as far as human habitation in South America. The oldest evidence of a sedentary population, as opposed to nomadic peoples, is 20,000 years ago in the Pikimachay Cave of Ayacucho.

Peru’s history of cities with defined culture begins with the archeological site of Caral-Supe, just south of Lima, which was inhabited from about 3000 BCE to 2600 BCE.

The Inca left such an important mark on Peru, which is still visible throughout the country today, that most Andean civilizations are classified as pre-Inca. There are the Inca, and there is everybody else.

Note: The Inca refers only to the rulers. There were 14 Inca rulers, the most famous being Pachacutec. The culture and their civilization is called Inca, though the common people were called by the city or region they were from. Commoners from Cusco were not Inca, they were Cusqueñ The Inca left such an important mark on Peru, which is still visible throughout the country today, that most Andean civilizations are classified as pre-Inca. There are the Inca, and there is everybody else.