The Viceroyalty of Peru was a major administrative division of the Spanish Empire established in 1542. It encompassed a vast territory in South America, including present-day countries like Peru, Bolivia, and parts of Ecuador and Chile. The viceroyalty was created to manage Spanish colonial interests, including the extraction of precious metals, particularly silver from mines like Potosí. The capital of the viceroyalty was located in Lima, which became a key center for trade and governance. The viceroyalty played a crucial role in the spread of Spanish culture and the Catholic faith throughout the region. It remained in existence until the early 19th century when independence movements led to its dissolution.