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PERU TRAVEL PLANNER
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Colonial Peru
Queen Isabella of Spain indirectly laid the original
foundations for the political administration of Peru in 1503 when she authorized
the initiation of an encomienda system , which meant that successful Spanish
conquerors could extract tribute for the Crown and personal service in return
for converting the natives to Christianity. They were not, however, given title
to the land itself. As governor of Peru, Pizarro used the encomienda system to
grant large groups of Indians to his favourite soldier-companions. In this way
the basic colonial land-tenure structure was created in everything but name.
"Personal service" rapidly came to mean subservient serfdom for the native
population, many of whom were now expected to raise animals introduced from the
Old World (cattle, hens, etc) on behalf of their new overlords. Many Inca cities
were rebuilt as Spanish towns, although some, like Cusco, retained native
masonry for their foundations and even walls. Other Inca sites, like Huanuco
Viejo, were abandoned in favour of cities in more hospitable lower altitudes.
The Spanish were drawn to the coast for strategic as well as climatic reasons -
above all to maintain constant oceanic links with the homeland via Panama.
The foundation of Lima in 1535 began a multilayered process of satellite
dependency which continues even today. The fat of the land (originally mostly
gold and other treasures) was sucked in from regions all over Peru, processed in
Lima, and sent on from there to Spain. Lima survived on the backs of Peru's
municipal capitals which, in turn, extracted tribute from the scattered
encomenderos. The encomenderos depended on local chieftains ( curacas) to rake
in service and goods from even the most remote villages and hamlets. At the
lowest level there was little difference between Inca imperial exploitation and
the economic network of Spanish colonialism. Where they really varied was that
under the Incas the surplus produce circulated among the elite within the
country, while the Spaniards sent much of it to a distant monarch on the other
side of the world.
In 1541 Pizarro was assassinated by a disgruntled faction among the
conquistadores who looked to Diego Almagro as their leader, and for the next
seven years the nascent colonial society was rent by civil war. In response, the
first viceroy - Blasco Nuñez de Vela - was sent from Spain in 1544. His task was
to act as royal commissioner and to secure the colony's loyalty to Spain; his
fate was to be killed by Gonzalo Pizarro, brother of Francisco. But Royalist
forces, now under Pedro de la Gasca, eventually prevailed - Gonzalo was captured
and executed, and Crown control firmly established.
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Published articles and reviews about us
2009
Testimonials
Ajay
Parikh
Date:
Thu,16 Jul 2009
Hello all the folks at Peru Gateway Travel,
We had a fantastic time in Peru. We thank you all for making
our trip a success.
The only concern is that the accommodation in Cusco was below
average and we would not recommend the Emparada Plaza (?) to
anyone. Even though the staff was good, the room/bathroom,
breakfast was very bad.
Once again, thanks a lot for making our trip to your country a
memorable one. All the guides, especially Guillarmo in Lima
and Erica in Cusco, were excellent.
Kazuaki Kubo
Date:
Thu,16 Jul 2009
I want to thank
you and all of the staff of Peru Gateway Travel for the perfect
arrangement of my trip in June.
Everything was so fantastic and I was made to think about another
trip to Peru.
Sincerely, Denise Pratico
Date:
Mon, 6 Jul 2009
I am writing to let you know that we
enjoyed Peru very much. The city tour led by Marco was fantastic. We
will be happy to recommend your agency to other Americans
Jane
Date:
Mon, 6 Jul 2009
We have
completed our trip to Peru and are now back in New York City.
I want to thank you for all the arrangements you made. The
trip was wonderful and all our accommodations excellent. Thank
you for making our trip a success.
Best regards, Marcy
Date:
Mon, 6 Jul 2009
We arrived home at 4 o'clock in the
morning, very tired (we had a long lay-over in Amsterdam) but very
very happy. I am so pleased to tell you that our Peru vacation that
you planned for us was excellent! Everything was just as the
itinerary said it would be. We were very pleased with the hotels,
and the transfer people and guides were always there and everybody
was so nice and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about your very
exciting country and its history, particularly about the Quechua
culture. We will always remember the Inti Raymi festival in Cusco. I
am so glad we were able to see that. Of course Machu Picchu was also
a great highlight. And, Michael and I also very much liked Arequipa.
We didn't know much about that city, but we had a very great time
there on our free day and visited the cathedral, spent a lot of time
going through the Santa Catalina monastario and, of course, went to
the museum to see "Juanita". Beautiful architecture there too.
Really, every day was wonderful, and we would like to thank you so
much for all your efforts. Also please extend our thanks to Maria
Carmen who was so helpful on the phone and to Julia, who came to the
hotel our first night to explain many things to us and give us all
our tickets and vouchers. And perhaps you also had something to do
with our last night in Lima at the Libertador. We got a suite -- a
very big beautiful room! Thank you so much.
We wish you and your family all the best, and for sure we will be
recommending Peru Gateway Travel to our friends.
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