Peru is a country in South America bordering the Pacific Ocean, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Its capital is Lima. Parts of the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rain Forest are located in Peru. Peru has one of the longest histories of civilization, dating back to the 32nd century BCE with the Norte Chico civilization. The Inca Civilization also flourished here, and the ruins of Machu Picchu are located in the Andes. The Spanish conquered the land in the sixteenth century, but Peru secured independence by 1824. Marcos Zapata is a famous Peruvian painter.