1In the seven years since the first edition was published, Peru has undergone significant changes that have had national and international consequences. A Brief History of Peru, Second Edition maintains the insightful narrative of the first edition and includes a history of the country from its ancient peoples and the Inca Empire through the most recent political, social, and economic developments. This revised edition expands on the second half of Alejandro Toledo's presidency, including his handling of domestic terrorism from the guerrilla organization Shining Path; the unveiling of a plan to construct a road that would connect Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru by roughly 2020; and the creation of a National Commission of Culture planned to bring a group of intellectuals and artists together to elaborate a governmental plan for cultural policies.