Ancash
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History:

Between the years 400 and 600 B.C. the Chavin civilization flourished in this zone. The importance of this culture does not only lies on its antiquity but also in the fact that a synthesis of a disperse and previous cultural process was started with this civilization and which was started in other places of the Andean and Amazonian territory. The name "Chavin" derives from the quechua word "Chaupin" which means: center or headquarters. In the Inca Age, the population of the Santa valley were embodied to the Empire by the Pachacutec Inca.

The first Spaniards came to Huaylas attracted by the fame of the silver veins of the region. The search for silver and gold by Indians made Spaniards to destroy the Inca cities. Most of the Inca mines, which exploitation was held by Spaniards, were very well appreciated like the San Luis de Huari mines. When Francisco Pizarro was in Cajamarca heard some stories related to the richness of the Santa valley and decided to move there in order to found a city. After bloody battles against huaylas and conchucos, the indian were put under the control of Spaniards. By that time, Jeronimo de Alvarado founded the city of Huaraz. In the Colonial Age, this city did not become important and its artistic and cultural life was not of importance.

During the Independence, Simon Bolivar established his headquarters in the City of Huaraz which is the capital of the department; this city was created on July 25, 1857.

A strong earthquake that shaked all the Santa Valley known as the Callejón de Huaylas took place in 1970. More than 50,000 people were died, and 186,000 houses were damaged. Yungay was the most damaged city and practically disappeared.