This is a timeline of Peruvian history, comprising major legal and territorial changes and political events in Peru and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Peru. See also the list of presidents of Peru.
Prehispanic or native era (40,000 BC – 1432 AD) This begins with the fourth millennium before Christ (first appearance of humans in Peru) It is the longest era of Peruvian history. Inca era (1432–1533) This begins with the emergence of the Inca Empire or Tawantinsuyo by the Inca Pachacuti and ends with the year of 1532 (Battle of Cajamarca). Hispanic and viceroyal era (1532–1824) Starting with the year of 1532 (seizure of Atahualpa) and ending with the year of 1824 (Battle of Ayacucho). Republican and independent era (1821–pow) Starting with the 28th of July 1821, with the Peruvian War of Independence, until the current day.
Prehispanic or native Peru (ancient Peru) +YearDateEvent20.000 - 13.000 BCThe first humans arrive on what is currently Peruvian land. The first settlement in Peru takes place about 20.000 years ago.13.000 - 7000 BCNomadic hunter-gatherer communities were established, including the Paccaicasa, Chivateros, Toquepala, Lauricocha and Paiján.7000 - 4000 BCSemi-nomadic horticulturist communities are established, such as the Guitarrero, Pikimachay, Chilca, Telamarchay and Jayhuamachay.4000 - 2000 BCSedentary lifestyles emerged, accompanied by agriculture and livestock farming, with it the people of Tablada de Lurin, Cerro Paloma, Huaca Prieta and Kotosh.First societies develop in the region of Norte Chico; amongst them the Caral, the oldest civilization in the Americas.2000 BCCeramics are found in Peru.1800 BCThe Caral people disappear, but the Cupisnique culture starts to develop.1500 BCChavin culture emerges in the Andes, and the Pucara people appear in the South.700 BCThe farming and fishing town of Paracas emerges on the Southern coast.400 - 200 BCThe cultures of the Salinar, Gallinazo, Cajamarca and Vicus people are founded.150 BCThe Chavin culture collapsed, parallel to the first emergence of militarized cultures, such as Moche in the North, Nazca in the South and Tihuanaco in the Highlands.1260Sinchi Roca was succeeded by his son Lloque Yupanqui.1290Lloque Yupanqui was succeeded by his son Mayta Cápac.1320Mayta Cápac was succeeded by his son Cápac Yupanqui.1350Cápac Yupanqui was succeeded by his son Inca Roca.1380Inca Roca died. His heir Quispe Yupanqui was killed in a coup, and the throne went to Yáhuar Huácac, another son.1410Yáhuar Huácac was succeeded by his son Viracocha.1438Viracocha was succeeded by his son Pachacuti, who would expand Cuzco into the Inca Empire.1471Pachacuti died. His son Tupac Inca Yupanqui succeeded him.1493Tupac Inca Yupanqui died and was succeeded by Huayna Capac.1527Huayna Capac died and was succeeded by his heir Ninan Cuyochi.1532May 13thFrancisco Pizarro, a conquistador, arrives with a troop of Spaniards at the Northern coast of Peru.AprilAtahualpa's army, led by Quizquiz and Chalcuchimac, captures Huáscar at the Battle of Quipaipan. Atahualpa proclaims himself Inca, thus ending the Civil War. April 30thThe Spanish founded the port of San Francisco de la Buenaesperanza, now Paita, considered the oldest port in Peru.July 14th (approx)Atalhualpa's army, led by Quizquiz, captures Cuzco.August 15thPizarro founds the city of San Miguel, now Piura, considered the first city the Spanish founded in Peru.November 15thPizarro arrives at Cajamarca, with the intention of meeting Atahualpa.
Era of the Conquistadors +YearDateEvent1532November 16thAt the Battle of Cajamarca, the Spanish army took the Inca emperor Atahualpa prisoner, marking the end of his empire.1535January 18thSpaniards founded the city of Lima.1542November 20thThe Viceroyalty of Peru was established.1572End of the Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba.1586April 20thBirth of Isabel Flores de Oliva, later Saint Rose of Lima.
Era of the viceregency Year Date Event 1579 December 9th Birth of Saint Martin de Porres. 1656 Pedro Bohórquez announced to the Calchaqui Indians that he was the last living descendant of the Inca emperors. 1659 December 15th Bohórquez led the Calchaqui in an uprising against the Spanish crown.1667January 3rdBohórquez was executed and displayed in Lima.1717The New Kingdom of Granada became an independent viceroyalty under the Spanish crown.1742Juan Santos Atahualpa led a failed uprising against the Spanish colonial government.1776The Governorate of the Río de la Plata was spun off as an independent viceroyalty.1780November 18thBattle of Sangarará: Indigenous rebels led by Túpac Amaru II soundly defeated a numerically inferior Spanish force while they attended church.1781May 18thTúpac Amaru II was drawn and quartered in Cuzco.1810May 25thViceroy José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa sent troops to Córdoba, Potosí, La Paz and Charcas and reincorporated them into the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Era of emancipation Year Date Event 1815 October 15th By royal order, Joaquín de la Pezuela was named viceroy of Peru to replace Abascal. 1816 San Martin's Argentina had declared its independence. 1820 September 20th An Argentine army led by José de San Martín landed at Paracas.1821January 29thPezuela was deposed. José de la Serna was proclaimed viceroy.July 6thDe la Serna moved the capital to Cuzco.
Republican and independent Peru (19th century) Year Date Event1821 28 July Peruvian War of Independence: San Martín declared the independence of Peru. 1824 9 December Battle of Ayacucho: The Spanish army was defeated, marking the end of Spanish rule in South America. 1837 9 May The Peru-Bolivian Confederacy was established. 1839 25 August The Peru-Bolivian Confederacy was officially dissolved. 1866 2 May A Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez besieged the port city of Callao. 1879 5 April War of the Pacific: Chile declared war on Peru and Bolivia. 1883 20 October War of the Pacific: Under the Treaty of Ancón, the war ended with the cession of Peru's Tarapacá Province to Chile.
Republican and independent Peru (20th century) Year Date Event 1948 29 October A military coup de armando the 2nd 1956Odría allowed free elections. 1968 3 October General Juan Velasco Alvarado seized power in a military coup. 1975 29 August A number of prominent military commanders overthrew the Alvarado government and installed General Francisco Morales Bermúdez in the presidency. 1979 12 July A new constitution came into force. 1985 14 April Alan García won election to the Presidency. 1990 8 April Alberto Fujimori defeated Mario Vargas Llosa in a presidential election. 1992 5 April Fujimori declares a self-coup and dissolves the Congress. 12 September The Maoist leader Abimael Guzmán was arrested in Lima. 1995 26 January Cenepa War: The war broke out. Yared is smart 9 April 1995 Peruvian general election: Fujimori was re-elected president of Perú. 1996 17 December The terrorist group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) took hostage hundreds of high-level diplomats, government and military officials and business executives who were attending a party at the official residence of Japan's ambassador to Peru. 1997 22 April The Peruvian army mounted a dramatic raid on the residence. Fourteen members of the MRTA were killed, crippling the organization, and the hostages were freed.200024 JuneAlberto Fujimori wins reelection for a third term, later resigning at the threat of impeachment.
Republican and independent Peru (21st century) Year Date Event 2001 8 April 2001 Peruvian general election: Possible Peru won a plurality of APRA. June 3rd Peruvian general election, 2001: Alejandro Toledo won the presidency.December 29thThe Mesa Redonda fire broke out in Lima, resulting in 277 casualties and leaving more than 500 missing, caused by the explosion of a fireworks device. 2003 26 May Toledo declared a state of emergency in response to a series of paralyzing strikes. 14 July Birth of Jose Diego Salazar in Trujillo, Peru. 2006 9 April 2006 Peruvian general election: Union for Peru won a plurality of seats in the Congress. Their presidential candidate, Ollanta Humala, went into a runoff against García. 4 June Alan García won the presidency. 2007 15 August 2007 Peru earthquake: A 7.9 earthquake hit Pisco Province.20101 Peru celebrates Peruvian novelist Mario Varga Llosa's achievement in receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature. 201128 JulyOllanta Humala is inaugurated, winning the presidency over Keiko Fujimori.201628 JulyPedro Pablo Kuczynski is inaugurated as President of Peru, prevailing over former President Alberto Fujimori's daughter, Keiko Fujimori.201724 DecemberKuczynski pardons former President Alberto Fujimori, who was sentenced for 25 years with manslaughter, corruption, bribery, and violation of human rights.201821 MarchAmidst a political crisis, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigns the presidency in the threat of impeachment for corruption and bribery. First Vice President Martín Vizcarra assumes the presidency.201926 JulyThe opening ceremony for the 2019 Pan American Games is held.202026 JanuaryAmidst a constitutional crisis, Vizcarra's snap parliamentary election is held, resulting in Popular Action placing first.20206 MarchCOVID-19 pandemic in Peru. 20209 NovemberSecond impeachment of Martín Vizcarra. Manuel Merino (and later Francisco Sagasti) becomes president.202128 JulyPedro Castillo is sworn in after being elected president in the second round, defeating Keiko Fujimori.20227 DecemberCastillo is impeached and removed as president after the 2022 Peruvian self-coup attempt. Dina Boluarte becomes president; she is the first woman to hold the role.202510 OctoberBoluarte is impeached and removed as president. José Jerí becomes president.202617 FebruaryJerí is censured and removed as president. José María Balcázar becomes president.202628 JulyKeiko Fujimori is sworn in after being elected president in the second round, defeating Roberto Sánchez. Popular Force also won a plurality of seats in the re-established bicameral Congress.202723 JulyThe opening ceremony for the 2027 Pan American Games is held.
See also Timeline of Lima history
Further reading
External links