Peru History Lesson

Peru History

Objectives:

To gain an understanding of Peru's history.
To analyze how specific ideas and beliefs have had an effect on a particular period of time.
To trace the route of the Spanish Conquistadors on a map of Peru.
To learn about the Spanish conquest of the Incas
To learn about the discovery of Machu Picchu.

Suggested Resource/Materials:

Paper and pencil,
Detailed maps of Peru showing its physical characteristics (soil, climate, vegetation, rivers, mountains),
Water colors or tempera paints,
Colored markers,
Chart or heavy duty paper,
Travel brochures and travel web sites.

The lesson:

Before beginning the study of the history of Peru have the students complete a KWHL Chart. (K=What Do We Know?; W=What We Want to Know?; H=How Do We Find Out?; L=What We Learned). This activity can be done as an entire class or in small groups. If done in small groups, each groups will share its chart with the entire class and then the class can do a composite of all of the groups.

questions:

Why were the Spanish Conquistadors accompanied by priests during their conquest of Peru?
The Spanish were Roman Catholic and the ancient peoples they conquered were considered pagans and heathens. What conflicts did this clash of cultures create? Why? How did the Spanish deal with the conflicts?
How were the Spanish Conquistadors able to conquer the Inca? What is Machu Picchu, and who "discovered" it?
Analyze and discuss the influences the Spanish ideas and beliefs had on this period of Peru's history. How might the history of the country been different if the Spanish had not conquered Peru?
Should the Spanish have attempted to impose their culture and religion on the native people?
Who were Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar? Why do you think it took 300 years for the people to overthrow the Spanish and to gain self rule?
Why is it that we have not heard very much about the Nazca, Moche, Chimu or other ancient cultures in Peru? What evidence did each of these cultures leave behind which indicate how they lived?
What is the ethnic make-up or composition of Peru today?

suggested activities:

Do a debate or construct a Discussion Web on whether or not the Spanish should have attempted to impose their beliefs and ideas on these ancient peoples.
Analyze the influences the Spanish ideas and beliefs had on this period of Peru's history and specify how things might have been different if the Spanish had not conquered the country.
Assume the role of one of the Spanish Conquistadors and write a diary account of your impressions of the native peoples and their culture.
Assume the role of one of the native peoples and write a diary account of your impressions of the Spanish Conquistadors.
Call a Summit meeting between the leaders of the Spanish and the natives. Discuss how you might resolve your differences and the consequences if you can not.
Discuss the significance of Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar for the history of Peru. Do a mental map for each man indicating those qualities or character you think each had.
Construct a mental map or structured overview showing important events in the history of Peru.
Discuss what it would be like to travel to uncharted or unmapped places like what the Spanish conquistadors did, or as explorers like Hiram Bingham did.

assessment:

In addition to paper and pencil tests, teachers could use individual or small group projects, oral reports, mental maps or structured overviews for assessment.

Vocabulary Search (search box)

Peru web site links