Department of Lima
Lima is a department of Peru. Located in the country's central coast, it is administered by a regional government based in Huacho, whose jurisdiction does not include the quasi-autonomous special regime of the province of Lima, coterminous with the country's capital, Lima.
Etymology
The name comes from one of two sources: Either the Aymara language lima-limaq, or the Spanish pronunciation of the Quechua word rimaq. It is worth nothing that the same Quechua word is also the source of the name given to the river that feeds the city, the Rímac River. It is known in Jaqaru, a language spoken in the department's districts of Catahuasi and Tupe, as Nimaja.It was also known simply as the Department of the Capital from 1821 until 1823.
History
On the northern coast of the region, the first known civilization in the Americas, Caral, emerged around the 4th millennium BC, with some characteristics that were maintained by later cultures of Pre-Columbian Peru: the use of the quipu, regional trade, and monumental religious architecture. The Aymara and Quechua language families also originated in this region.The remains of early Andean inhabitants, hunters and harpoon fishermen from more than 6500 years ago, are to be found in the department. Theey were found in Chivateros, near the Chillón River, and in various other places. These persons incorporated nets, hooks, farming, ceramics and weaving to their everyday objects. The inhabitants of the coast lived in the lomas and the valleys, where they built temples and dwelling complexes, leading to huge ceremonial centres, such as the Huacoy and Ancón on the Chillón River; Garagay and La Florida on the Rímac River, Manchay on the Lurín River; and Chancay, Supe and many other valleys to the north and south. There are finely ornamented temples with figures modelled in clay. The 5,000-year-old ruins known as El Paraíso are also located in this area.
The Lima culture arose in this area, specially in the central valleys from Chancay to Lurín. It was distinguished by painted adobe buildings. During this time, the Huari conquest took place, thus giving rise to Huari-style ceramics, together with a local style known as Nievería. As the population grew, their culture changed. With the decline of the Huari, whose most important center was Cajamarquilla, new local cultures arose. The Chancay are the most well-known. They developed large urban centers and a considerable textile production, as well as mass-produced ceramics.
At this stage in the mid-15th century, the Incas arrived from their base in the Andes. They conquered and absorbed the regional cultures and occupied important sites such as Pachacamac, turning it into an administrative centre.
Spanish period
The Spanish conquered and occupied the area in the 16th century. From 1784 to 1821, the area was administered as the Intendancy of Lima, subdivided into partidos. During the Peruvian War of Independence, the town of Huaura served as the location for the first proclamation of the independence of Peru. José de San Martín made the announcement from a balcony on November 27, 1820.The Department of the Coast was established on February 12, 1821, through an official document issued by San Martín that also created the departments of Huaylas, Tarma and Trujillo, each headed by a president. Their jurisdiction extended to the territory occupied by the Liberating Expedition of Peru. Its capital was Huaura, the seat of its president, whose lone officeholder was. It was subdivided into three provinces: Santa,, and Canta. It was represented at the first Congress of Peru in 1822 by the following:
San Martín's forces did not reach Lima—located south of the department—for five more months, where he again proclaimed the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821. This time, the announcement took place in four of the city's urban squares: La Merced, Plaza Mayor, Santa Ana and Inquisición. The announcement in the main square was made from the Casa del Oidor
Republican period
The Department of the Capital was created through the a Provisional Statute of August 4, 1821, composed of the partidos of Cercado de la Capital, Yauyos, Cañete, and Ica, also including the government of Huarochirí. On November 4, 1823, the department of the Coast was annexed into its territory. In 1835, Santa was transferred to Huaylas.On August 11, 1836, the Republic of North Peru was created following a civil war. Nine days later, Callao was granted autonomy by Protector Andrés de Santa Cruz. On October 28, North Peru, to which the department of Lima belonged, joined the Peru–Bolivian Confederation. The War of the Confederation threatened the country's stability, with a seccessionist government headed by Luis José de Orbegoso taking control of North Peru. Orbegoso's forces were defeated in a confrontation that took place north of Lima. The Chilean–dissident Peruvian alliance eventually defeated the Confederate forces, and the state dissolved in 1839.
In 1855, the province of Ica was separated from the department. It was elevated eleven years later by Mariano Ignacio Prado. The Villa de Huacho was elevated to city level through the law of November 10, 1874, which also made it the provincial capital. The law was passed by Manuel Pardo.
In 1879, a war between a Peruvian–Bolivian alliance against Chile began, known as the War of the Pacific. The latter's miiltary campaign was successful, and Lima was occupied by the Chilean Army following a brief land campaign that began in Pisco.
In 1916, Cajatambo province, which also included what later became Oyón province at the time, was transferred to Lima.
Contemporary period
During the Internal conflict in Peru, parts of the territory were occupied by the Shining Path. In 1985, Oyón province was created. In 1988, Chancay province was dissolved.In 2006, a team of archeological researchers led by Robert Benfer announced their findings from a four-year excavation at Buena Vista in the Chillón River valley a few kilometres north of present-day Lima. They had discovered a 4200-year-old observatory constructed by an early Andean civilization, a three-dimensional sculpture, unique for the time period in this region, and sophisticated carvings. The observatory is on top of a 10-meter pyramidal mound and has architectural features for sighting the astronomical solstices. The discovery pushes back the time for the development of complex civilisation in the area and has altered scholars' understanding of Preceramic period cultures in Peru.
Politics
The department is administered by a regional government based in Huacho. The province of Lima is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima. The former is headed by a regional governor, while the latter is headed by the metropolitan mayor.List of governors
Since 2023, the regional governor of Lima is.Subdivisions
The department is divided into ten provinces, which are composed of 171 districts.- Barranca
- Cajatambo
- Cañete
- Canta
- Huaral
- Huarochirí
- Huaura
- Lima
- Oyón
- Yauyos
Geography
The department has a coastal and an Andean zone, and has a great diversity of natural regions: the Coast or Chala up to the Janka or Mountain range. The predominating regions are the Yunga and ''Quechua''