That said, the Norte Chico people of Peru built a civilization 5, 000 years ago and the centuries that followed saw the emergence of other significant cultures, such as the Paracas and the Moche.

CNN: 10 things to know before visiting Peru

Syria is the cradle of civilization, with a history of human settlement stretching back 5, 000 years.

WSJ: Saving Syria | by Christian C. Sahner