The Discovery and Conquest of Peru : Chronicles of the New World Encounter
(Chronicles of the New World Encounter, Latin American in Translation/En tr
by Pedro De Cieza De Leon, Alexandra Parma Cook (Translator), Noble davi Cook
Times Literary Supplement "Cieza is a prime source for Indian resistance after the conquest and was one of the first Europeans to re-create 'the vision of the vanquished,' a concept now much invoked. . . . The Discovery and Conquest of Peru . . . discloses Cieza's unique knowledge of the exploration of Peru, the defeat and execution of the Inca Atahualpa, the course of Indian resistance and the ultimate triumph of the Spaniards. Cieza refers modestly to the simplicity of his style, which abhors rhetoric and seeks only to tell things as they are. But his chronicler is a historian; the narrative is supported by analysis and a sense of theme and chronology, while the beauty and wealth of Peru and the drama of events break through into a vivid display of contemporary history. Four centuries later, Cieza has been well served by his translators, who reproduce his prose with rare precision." --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title Book Description Dazzled by the sight of the vast treasure of gold and silver being unloaded at Seville's docks in 1537, a teenaged Pedro de Cieza de Len vowed to join the Spanish effort in the New World, become an explorer, and write what would become the earliest historical account of the conquest of Peru. Available for the first time in English, this history of Peru is based largely on interviews with Cieza's conquistador compatriates, as well as with Indian informants knowledgeable of the Incan past. About the Author Pedro de Cieza de Len (c. 1518-1555) was a soldier in Spain's royal forces who recorded that country's conquest of Peru. 
Valley of the spirits
by Alan L. Kolata
The New York Times Book Review ... a personal story, an ethnography, an archeological treatise, an agricultural report ... it takes us on an exciting ride with an accomplished archeologist who adheres to the dictum of the Mexican prehistorian Alfonso Caso: "Remember, we are not looking for things, we are looking for people." Midwest Book Review Long before the empires of the Inca, the Aztecs, and the Maya, the Aymara Indians built the first great empire of the "New World" in a secluded valley high in the Andes mountains. Valley Of The Spirits is an intriguing exploration into the past and present of the Aymara Indians in which author Alan Kolata describes the 15,000 history of this fascinating Native American civilization. Valley Of The Spirits vividly depicts the myths, rituals, politics, arts, religion, commerce and daily... read more The Tiwanaku : Portrait of an Andean Civilization (The Peoples of America) by Alan L. Kolata Reviewer: Melanie F. Wright (melanie@essex.ac.uk) from Colchester, England August 20, 1997 Given the raft of weirdos who over the years have chosen Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) for their subject, it is a welcome addition to have a serious book by a real scientist who has actually excavated at the site for several years. Tiwanaku is a favorite focus for loonies ranging from the Von Daniken "extra terrestrials are responsible for all the great human achievements of the past" school to the New Age mystic Shirley Maclain's Out on a Limb [Out of your mind!] school. While not explicitly addressing the wacko theories, Kolata's book shows how, contrary to their implicit racism, the indigenous people of the Titicaca basin were more than ingenious enough to come up with ways to contruct major monuments, carve incredible fantastic stone sculptures, and make the high arid plain of the altiplano bloom with potatoes, tubers and quinoa. These people had indoor plumbing and public sewage systems 1500 years ago! The Tiwanaku is a bit simplistic and general for the Andean or archaeological specialist; it is more appropriate for the first year University student or educated layman. Nonetheless, it brings together the current general state of knowledge about this important civilization in a highly readable fashion. 4 of 5 people found this review
El Significado de Machu Picchu by James S. Westerman Book Description Hay una fascinacion mundial por las ruinas de Machu Picchu y los que la construyeron. Desde el descubrimiento hecho por Hiram Bingham en 1911, la construccion de Machu Picchu ha dejado perplejo y fascinado al hombre. Hasta ahora nadie ha podido dar una explicacion del por que los incas construyeron esta ciudad espectacular en las alturas escarpadas de Los Andes. En 1995, motivado por una serie de coincidencias y experiencias personales, James Westerman formo un equipo arqueologico para excavar... read more
Tiwanaku and Its Hinterland : Archaeology and Paleoecology of an Andean Civilization : Agroecology (Smithsonian Series in Archaeological Inquiry) by Alan L. Kolata (Editor) Ancestors of the Incas : The Lost Civilizations of Peru by Frederico Kauffmann-Doig, Eulogio Guzman (Translator), Federico Kauffman-Doig, Garrett White (Editor)
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