Brief History Of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the many citadels of the Incan Empire. The "Old Mountain", as its translation indicates, is located in the south of Peru. It was established about the year 1400. The site is located more than two kilometers above sea level, in the Cusco region in Peru and was constructed during the heyday of the Inca Empire. It was built under the leadership of the Emperor Pachacutec, probably the most important Inca emperor, when the empire grew exponentially and saw the birth of many of its greatest cities including Machu Picchu.

After the fall of the Inca Empire at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors, the citadel had been uninhabited. Experts have not agreed with respect to the situation of Machu Picchu during the colonial era. While some claim that the Spanish were aware of the citadel, others argue that it was never found. The truth is that its existence would be known only to the locals until the year in which the American historian Hiram Bingham found them and expose it to the world. With the help of Yale University , the National Geographic Society and the Peruvian government, Bingham began archaeological work in the area from 1912 until 1915 , a period in which the thick wilderness of the jungle would be removed from the ruins to discover numerous temples and tombs that belonged to many high ranking officials.

Before the cityl of Machu Picchu was built, the area was inhabited by people from the regions of Vilcabamba and the Sacred Valley, who were seeking to expand their land borders. The story goes that during the reign of Wiracocha , the empire was threatened constantly by their western neighbors , the Chanca . When the emperor realized it was difficult to stop an eventual invasion he decided ...

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...t that it appears that the Spaniards did not appreciate the importance of the citadel in the past, since they did not settle or constructed any type of buildings nearby. Gradually, the place would be forgotten by Spanish colonists but not by locals.

The citadel of Machu Picchu made its first world debut in 1913 when the first photographs of the city were published in the National Geographic magazine. This led to a significant recognition world wide that would eventually make that amazing city a World Heritage Site in 1983 and be pronounced one of the new seven world wonders.

Since then, Machu Picchu became the most tourist destination in Peru and one of the most important worldwide. Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO and voted by millions as one of the Nine Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is without doubt the greatest heritage left by the ancient Incas.