Conquest.

In Mexico, the Aztec; in Peru, the Inca

Machu Picchu is the ruins of an Inca city in Peru. It was built in 1450 as the estate of the emperor Pachacuti but abandoned approximately a century later during the Spanish conquest.

By conquest , pillage and burn. Both Mexico and Peru were conquered by Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro, respectively. Then, both countries remained as overseas colonies of the Spanish empire for more than 300 years.

Several Spanish conquerors (or, 'conquistadores') led Spain's campaigns of conquest in the American regions of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century. Foremost was Hernan Cortes (1485-1547), who was instrumental in the conquest of Mexico, although others would complete the work that he began. In Peru, it was Francisco Pizarro (d. 1541) who led the primary campaign that brought most of the region into Spanish control.