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Six hundred years ago, in less than a century, the Inca people, located in present day Peru, forged an empire equal to that of the Greeks and Romans. They built their empire, not by military conquest but by treaties, based on providing food for all the empire's citizens. In the process, The Incas built architectural wonders for all eternity. Theirs is a history of what 7 million people can accomplish when they all work toward a common goal. Today Machu Picchu stands as a glorious reminder of this once incredible empire. Join Globe Trekker's Zay Harding has he takes you through the ancient history of the Incas.Extras include:*Closed Captioned for the Hearing Impaired*Spanish Subtitled*Instructor Guide*Blackline Master Quizzes*Timeline*MapsSHOT IN HIGH DEFINITION ... Read more

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Ancient Egypt\nStudents learn about the people, places and issues of the world's past through the multicurricular activities in language arts, social studies, science, math, and the arts. Each book contains 27 topics grouped into three units. Except as not ... Read more

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FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Explores the lives of ancient Incans, from the challenges of being a farmer to the rewards of being a ruler. Discover what kinds of crops they grew, how they built famous structures, such as Machu Picchu, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great resource book
I bought this book some time back and its been a really great addition to my library! Its written in modern simple language, loads of pictures and diagrams. Its a really indepth look at the history, culture and daily life of the Inca.

recommended reading
Fabulous, intriguing and colorful resource for understanding the culture and daily life of the Ancient Incas. ... Read more

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The ruins and tombs high in the Andes Mountains of Peru yield valuable clues to lives of the Ancient Incas.

In 1995, the Inca Ice Maiden is recovered, one of four human sacrifices found on Ampato. These mummies provide scientists with perfectly preserved "time capsules"—packed with clues to Inca civilization during the 1400s.

Cuzco, the seat of Inca power, reveals the remains of the Inca railroad system and the incredible fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

The Coricancha, Cuzco's spectacular Inca temple of worship, contains vital clues to the Incas' spiritual culture, which are also revealed in artifacts recovered from tombs.

Inca archaeological sites such as the Old Temple at Chavin de Huantar and the Huaca del Sol continually paint a portrait of an extremely advanced civilization, which left no written record of its history.

Ancient Inca includes an interview with Dr. Constanza Ceruti, a high-altitude archaeologist and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer currently working in Peru. ... Read more

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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The great civilizations of the distant past never cease to impress us with their spectacular achievements. Ideas, writings, and works of art speak to us across tracts of time with an amazing freshness of imagination and workmanship. This book presents a vivid, multi-faceted portrait of these achievements, set within their historical context and embracing a global coverage, which includes ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China and Pre-Columbian America. The Ancient World is the most accessible guide yet produced to the spiritual, cultural, technological, and artistic innovation that was a hallmark of these complex and fascinating societies. Organized chronologically, the text places special emphasis on the evidence still remaining. Detailed coverage is given to symbols, sacred texts, religious ceremonies, gods and goddesses, visions of the cosmos, and sacred sites - from the temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings to the sweeping majesty of the Great Wall of China.Sample entries include: Sumer and Akkad - the first civilizations along the Indus Valley of Mesopotamia; Egypt - from the pre-dynastic 'Scorpion King' to the Old Kingdom Pyramid Age to the glories of the New Kingdom; Minoan/Mycenean civilization - the first city states; the legend of Atlantis; Roman Republic - rise of Rome; wars with Carthage; golden age of the Republic; Parthian Empire - the Hellenistic counterweight to Roman expansion in the East; Qin Dynasty - unification of China and beginning of Imperial China; Mahajanapadas - the 'Great Kingdoms' of India; Inca Empire, Machu Picchu, El Dorado. ... Read more

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This fascinating visual history tells the story of the ancient peoples of Peru and the Andes. Explores economics and the world of work, religious beliefs and life at home, crime and punishment, and death and sacrifice. ... Read more

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Describes the politics, society, ideas, religion, art, science, entertainment, rural life, and legacy of one of the greatest planned societies the world has ever known. ... Read more

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The publication of the text of the Sarmiento manuscript in the Library
of Göttingen University, has enabled the Council to present the members
of the Hakluyt Society with the most authentic narrative of events
connected with the history of the Incas of Peru.

The history of this manuscript, and of the documents which accompanied
it, is very interesting. The Viceroy, Don Francisco de Toledo, who
governed Peru from 1569 to 1581, caused them to be prepared for the
information of Philip II. Four cloths were sent to the King from Cuzco,
and a history of the Incas written by Captain Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa.
On three cloths were figures of the Incas with their wives, on
medallions, with their _Ayllus_ and a genealogical tree. Historical
events in each reign were depicted on the borders. The fable of
Tampu-tocco was shown on the first cloth, and also the fables touching
the creations of Viracocha, which formed the foundation for the whole
history. On the fourth cloth there was a map of Peru, the compass lines
for the positions of towns being drawn by Sarmiento.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Conquistadors History
This translation of the work of Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa is both riveting and detailed. As an account of the history of the Incas it is unsurpassed in its accuracy, presenting evidence gained from the Incas themselves circa1570AD.Events and occurrences are vividly portrayed although the readeris always left with a sense of myth being mixed with fact. Also theannoying use of Italics to mark out the obvious and often contradictorystatements forced to be included in the book by the Spanish Viceroy of thetime is somewhat demeaning.

Despite this the translation serves as afascinating read and as a lucid and detailed account of the history of theIncas. The translator has also included an invaluable lexicon of Quechuawords and useful maps of the areas in question that add a realism to thebook that would be otherwise unachievable.

A stunning and informativeread this work is equally capable of being a book of general interest or anaccurate academic source. However the prime benefit of this book is not itsauthenticity but its rich detail that illustrates the lifestyle of theancient Incas in a truly vivid manner. It is also interesting to note thestrong religious superiority that is portrayed by the author and theattitudes of the Spanish conquistadors towards the Incas that were apparentduring this period of history and to observe how these factors shaped thetype of history that was recorded during this period, a fact that is all toeasy to overlook. ... Read more

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This book introduces the reader to the fascinating world of the Incas. It explores how the Incas worked, played, worshipped their gods, and lived their daily lives. It also looks at how the Inca world was ruled, including its famous cities and royal roads. Did you know? The Inca ruler was worshipped as a god. Inca girls were married as young as 12. The Incas used gold beads and the feathers of exotic birds to decorate their clothing. The Ancient Civilizations series tells the stories of the greatest cultures in human history and explains the lives of ancient people with amazing facts and stories. ... Read more

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The great empire of the Incas at its height encompassed an area of western South America comparable in size to the Roman Empire in Europe. This book describes and explains its extraordinary progress from a remote Andean settlement near Lake Titicaca to its rapid demise six centuries later at the hands of the Spanish conquerors.

• A bold new history by the world's leading expert on Incan civilization.
  
• Covers the entire Andean region, five countries and ten million people.
  
• Heavily illustrated with maps, figures, and photographs.

Customer Reviews (8)

Richly Detailed and Readable Insights Into the Lives of The Incas
The Incas is a very detailed and enlightening view into the world of the Incas. The book is well researched and and appropriate for anyone looking to go beyond the tales of Machu Picchu and the Spanish Conquest.

D'Altroy uses a wealth of resources to detail the lives and existence of the Incas - day-to-day living, military and family structures, economy, etc.

The writing is comfortable enough for even the non-academic.

Highly recommended.

Not bedtime reading...
Eager to learn more about the Incas, I found out the hard way that this book is not for the casual enthusiast. If you are working on graduate studies on the Incas, yes, this might be a useful book. If you are traveling to Peru and/or simply interested in learning about the Incas, I'd avoid this book.

The Incas
I have a great interest in the Inca tribes and wished to find out more about them. It was very good study material for my studies.

Excellent source for all the information you need on the Incas
I'm preparing to travel to Peru in a month so i bought this book to get myself aquainted with the Incas and the book didnt dissapoint me.The authors do a very good job in presenting the Incas in a very interesting manner using terms that were easy to follow and understand.The part of the book that deals with their cult of the dead was very interesting and informative.Also it is very well explained how the Incas governed themselves and how do they managed to form a very impressive empire despite the fact that it was formed by a lot of different tribes and peoples from the Andean Plateau.This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand and, very important,to enjoy reading about such an amazing culture.

The most complete source about the Incas
This book provides all the information needed to understand many aspects of the Inca empire. Comparing recent archaeological findings with Spanish cronicles and with many Inca narratives about their lifestyle, Terence D'altroy offers a scientific point of view about this magnificent realm. The Incas constitute a major guide that must be readed before traveling to Peru.
... Read more

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Sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History, this illustrated history of the Inkas and their predecessors offers a fresh appraisal of a remarkable civilization. Based on recent archaeological studies, this story of the Andean people traces the development of their complex civilization from its beginnings 11,000 years ago to its culmination - the vast and powerful Inka Empire - in the 16th century. The book describes and illustrates their agricultural methods, social organization, political structure, religious beliefs, ceremonial practices, technologies and artistic expression. Their achievements include intricate weaving techniques; gold, ceramic and metalwork of stunning originality; the construction of monumental buildings at the same time as the pyramids were being built in Egypt; and early empires that rival those of the Old World in size and scope. The objects used to illustrate this volume have been photographed in the Museum of Natural History's Hall of South American Peoples, which houses the largest collection of Andean objects of any museum in the United States.Supplementing these pictures are panoramas of the spectacular and diverse land inhabited by the Inkas and the equally remarkable civilizations that preceded them. ... Read more

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The Cuzco Valley of Peru was both the sacred and the political center of the largest state in the prehistoric Americas—the Inca Empire. From the city of Cuzco, the Incas ruled at least eight million people in a realm that stretched from modern-day Colombia to Chile. Yet, despite its great importance in the cultural development of the Americas, the Cuzco Valley has only recently received the same kind of systematic archaeological survey long since conducted at other New World centers of civilization.

Drawing on the results of the Cuzco Valley Archaeological Project that Brian Bauer directed from 1994 to 2000, this landmark book undertakes the first general overview of the prehistory of the Cuzco region from the arrival of the first hunter-gatherers (ca. 7000 B.C.) to the fall of the Inca Empire in A.D. 1532. Combining archaeological survey and excavation data with historical records, the book addresses both the specific patterns of settlement in the Cuzco Valley and the larger processes of cultural development. With its wealth of new information, this book will become the baseline for research on the Inca and the Cuzco Valley for years to come.

Customer Reviews (3)

The best prep for a Peru vacation
I truely wish I had read this book before I traveled to Cusco.I think I owuld have appreciated some of the things I saw more.This is THE history of Cusco, with particular emphasis on what the city used to look like, where buildings were, etc.

Lu Giddings
I read this book after my first trip to Cuzco. I deeply regret that I did not read it prior to my trip. While some will undoubtedly find it a bit technical at times, it is concise, easily readable, highly informative, and often fascinating. Chapter 12, "The Mummies of the Royal Inca," was one of the most interesting bits of reading I've enjoyed in some time. I very highly recommend this book.

Heading to the Navel....
This is a must read if you are going down to Cuzco. Good up to date history of the area. ... Read more

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This wide-ranging survey has established itself as the best single-volume introduction to Andean art and architecture. Now fully revised, it describes the strikingly varied artistic achievements of the Chavín, Paracas, Moche, Chimú, and Inca cultures, among others. Their impressive cities, tall pyramids, shining goldwork, and intricate textiles constitute one of the greatest artistic traditions in history.

For the second edition, Rebecca Stone-Miller has added new material covering the earliest mummification in the world at Chinchorros, wonderful new Moche murals and architectural reconstructions, the latest finds from the Chachapoyas culture, and a greater emphasis on shamanism. Throughout, Stone-Miller demonstrates how the Andean peoples adapted and refined their aesthetic response to an extremely inhospitable environment. 185 illustrations, 35 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

As Advertised
Item was delivered quicker than stated and was in excellent condition.Quick and easy, would do business again!

Insightful look at ancient Andean art
By examining ancient and more recent precontact Andean visual art, Stone-Miller provides an extraordinary insight into Andean culture, philosophy, and world views. In the 2002 revised version, she is able to include recent archaeological discoveries that push Andean civilizations and art further back in time. The book looks at architecture, gourd art, textiles, carving, jewelry and metalsmithing, and ceramics - the techniques of manufacture, trade, symbolism, religious and cultural significance, and aesthetics. She also examines major cultures throughout precontact Andean history and clearly explains how they influenced each other.

Incredible window into Pre-contact Andean world
Illustrations, analysis - all incredible. A wonderful first book for people curious about the indigenous Andean world

Balanced and Astute
This book stands out, among many others, for the quality of insight that Rebecca Stone-Miller brings to her study of Andean art. Not content with simple typology and iconography, her account is illuminated by the cultural constants - "duality,reciprocity, hierarchy, and embeddedness in nature" (p. 218) that she finds in the underlying Andean cultures. Art history, in these terms, becomes an exploration of meaning, both of the art that is produced and of the culture that produces it. It's rare to find so much insight in an introductory book; I highly recommend it.

Another strength of the book is the nicely-judged balance of attention that the author pays to the multitude of cultures (including the Chavin, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, and Inca, to name just some) that weave together into the Andean tapestry. The author also provides balanced coverage of all the arts -- metalwork, tapestry, featherwork, stone working, and architecture, in addition to the ever-popular ceramics (pottery).

With so much ground to cover, there are relatively few individual ceramic examples in the book; this unfortunately gives a too-restricted an idea of the range of form, beauty, and variety of Pre-Columbian pottery from South America. I recommend a book such as "Ceramics of Ancient Peru," by Christopher B. Donnan, as a supplement to Rebecca Stone-Miller's study.

A small number of errors have made it through the second edition. For example, the distance from Quito to Santiago is quoted as 3400 miles, rather than the correct 3400 kilometers. A bothersome number of specialized terms were left out of the index. A glossary would have been helpful, and one wishes that more of the photos had been printed in color rather than black and white.

In summary, "Art of the Andes" is a balanced and insightful survey that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. It's the kind of book that doesn't just sit on the shelf after one reading, but gets picked up again, thumbed through, and read more than once.

Excellent historical overview of native Andean art.
This is an excellent overview of native Andean artform the earliest perod through Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari, to Incan. Covers architecture, textiles ,pottery and metallic arts. Looks at the main themes of religious and secular art in these various mediums. Text is accompanied by many black and white photographs, drawings and plans. Some photographs are in colour.

I found this work most interesting for the way it brings out the Andean worldview through the artistic artifacts remaining of those cultures. The work is also reasonably priced and up to date. ... Read more