Cusco and Lima after the 17th-century great earthquakes: decisions, consequences and society

The two major earthquakes that affected the Viceroyalty of Peru in the 17th century unleashed great destruction upon its two arguably most important cities: Cusco in 1650 and Lima, the viceroyalty’s capital, in 1687. Of course, these disasters were determinant for both cities in terms of spatial and material considerations, but the aftermath offers researchers the possibility of reflection on how the local authorities organized the reconstruction efforts, what was prioritized and how, who ultimately decided the shape of the new cities- and for whom those cities were planned. History -specially architectural history- often forgets about the people that built the buildings it studies, and in a society as stratified as the Peruvian viceroyalty’s this means that there’s a void in our understanding that ignores anything but the most monumental of public and private constructions. This study aims to introduce the lesser, the humble buildings in the conversation: what characterized them? Who were they built for? Did they survive until today? And if they did- why?