Nearly 500 years ago the representatives of two great, but very different, civilizations clashed in the Andes Mountains of modern-day Peru. The Incas who lived in the region had established a highly advanced civilization and built great cities and temples of stone. From Europe, Spanish soldiers led by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro came seeking the Incas' gold. In the five centuries since then, the blend of Spanish and Amerindian cultures has contributed greatly to the development of modern Peru. The Republic of Peru is a land of great variety. High mountains, dense jungles, and barren deserts are all found close together. The country is the third largest, by area, in South America. Though Peru has great natural wealth, its economic development has been slow and there remains a wide gap in income between the wealthiest and poorest citizens. There's a lot to discover about Peru!