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This digital document is an article from Countries and Their Cultures, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 2579 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Covers the broad range of popular religious culture of the United States at the close of the twentieth century. Beliefs, practices, symbols, traditions, movements, organizations, and leaders from the many traditions in the pluralistic American community are represented. Also includes cults and phenomena that drew followers, such as Heaven's Gale and UFOs. ... Read more

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In 1940, Lima had just over 600,000 inhabitants but by 1995 its population had increased to seven million, with groups of migrants arriving from all over Peru. Today, Lima is a metropolis of cultures and languages; in the wake of urban growth Lima has become 'Andeanised'. Migration to the capital has provoked major cultural changes in the life of the city, but so has the massive presence of the Shining Path and its demands to create an 'ethnic citizenship'. Rodrigo Montoya sets out to describe the integrated processes of migration, culture, and change in order to unravel the meanings of ethnicity, consumerism, generational relationships, and new musical and theatrical expressions, while simultaneously challenging the validity of the prevailing mestizo culture concept in Latin America. He shows the manifold ways in which daily life and culture are reproduced in a continuous and ongoing process of cultural appropriations among and between historical actors. ... Read more

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Chapters: Culture of Peru, Pishtaco, Peruvian Celebrations, the Laika, Llamerada, Diablada Puneña, Mariri, Icaro, Academia Peruana de La Lengua, Yachay, Amauta, Corequenque. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 48. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: A Pishtaco is a fantasy figure, a boogeyman, in the Andes region of South America, in particular in Peru. According to folklore, it is an evil monster-like man, often a stranger and often a white man, who seeks out unsuspecting Indians, to kill them and abuse their bodies in disgusting ways, primarily by stealing their body fat for various nefarious cannibalistic purposes or cutting them up and selling their flesh as fried chicharrones. Pishtaco is derived from the local language Quechua word: "pishtay" which mean to "behead, cut the throat or cut into slices" Preoccupation with body fat has a long tradition in the Andes region. In pre-Hispanic times, fat was so prized that a deity for it existed, Viracocha (Sea of fat). It is also natural for the peasant rural poor to view fleshiness and excess body fat as the very sign of life, good health, strength and beauty. Many illnesses are thought to have their roots in the loss of body fats and skeletal thinness is abhorred. The Indians were horrified when they saw the practice of the Conquistadores of treating their wounds with fats taken from enemy corpses. Spanish missionaries were feared as Pishtacos by the Andean aboriginals, who believed they were killing people for fat with which to oil churchbells to make them specially sonorous. In modern times similar beliefs held that human fat was needed to grease the machinery of sugar mills or that jet aircraft engines could not be started without a squirt of human fat. Pishtaco beliefs have affected international assistance programs, e.g. leading to...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=25143399 ... Read more

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The story of the life and untimely death of a persecuted priest in colonial Peru and the controversy over mysterious, recently discovered documents about him
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Customer Reviews (5)

An illuminating book on a dark corner of history
Dr Hyland should be commended for her scholarship, dedication and fortitude on bringing to light the life of Blas Valera.His chronicles give great insight on the transition of Incan to Spanish culture and society that effects Peru to today.Prof Hyland's narrative is very helpful in understanding Blas Valera and the context of the world around him.My only criticism, and a mild one, is that Blas Valera's somewhat gilded view of Incan culture and accomplishments, although understandable given his imprisonment,could have deserved more discussion.The presentation of the Naples documents was fascinating, and I think, fairly represented.The Jesuits and the Incas is a highly readable and recommeneded book for all interested in Peruvian history.

The Jesuit and the Incas
The prose was excellent and scholarship first rate.In dealing with the life of Blas Valera Dr. Hyland was confronted with a very complex and controversial topic.Rather than obsessing over the authenticity of the so-called Naples documents, she did a thorough background study of the man and his time and the injustices he experienced at the hands of those institutions and persons he served.In dealing with the authenticity of the Naples documents in the final part of the book, I found her analysis to be thorough and dispassionate.The ethnohistoric data was presented in a clear, highly detailed, and unambiguous manner.Instead of taking sides or taking the data beyond its limits, Dr. Hyland let her readers make up their own minds about the controversy surrounding the Naples documents on the basis of the evidence. In my opinion, Hyland is to be applauded for the breadth and scope of her research and for not letting herself become entangled in the bitter acrimony which no doubt played a large role in some of the poor reviews this fine work received.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Andean ethnohistory.

a response to the reviewer from London
I would not normally respond to an anonymous review, but there may be some potential readers who will be seriously misled about the contents of my book by the reviewer from London.

First, most of my book is not about the so-called "Miccinelli documents" -- the sensational manuscripts which claim, among other things, that Valera faked his death, returned secretly to Peru and taught a phonetic form of Inca writing -- at all.The first eight chapters of my book discuss Valera's tumultuous life and radical ideas based entirely on sources other than the Miccinelli documents.Only the final two chapters of my book concern the Miccinelli texts; Chapter 9 describes the documents while Chapter 10 explores the controversy over them.

Second, I state unequivocally in my book that I believe the documents to be forgeries.The issue is whether they are 17th century forgeries or modern forgeries.My book argues that they are 17th century forgeries created by Valera's followers within the Society of Jesus in Peru, a position supported by other respected researchers in the field.Other scholars have argued that the Miccinelli texts are modern forgeries, suggesting in print that Umberto Eco is the criminal mastermind behind this alleged conspiracy of forgery, in collusion with professors at the University of Bologna and other Italian universities.I leave it to readers of my book to decide which position is more convincing.

Because this cannot by posted without assigning stars, and, while I am confident in my book, there is always room for improvement, I assign it three stars.

An intriguing topic, but this book needs work
This book proposes to shed light on a dark corner of colonial Latin American history and historiography by exploring the life of Blas Vaelra, the mestizo chronicler who proved so influential in the writing Garcilaso de la Vega's Royal Commentaries of the Incas.This is a laudable goal, but unfortunately this book is evidence of some of the sloppiest kind of scholarly sensationalism in Academia.In reviewing the ongoing controversy over the so-called Miccinelli documents (recently discovered in the private collection of an Italian academic), Prof. Hyland does a mediocre job of detailing just how questionable these sources are.Her responses to more creditable and sober critics are unconvincing, as are her apologies for the weaknesses she *does* recognize in the documents.

Those who craft elaborate frauds often shield themselves behind what they like to characterize as the "establishement's" inability to brook radical transformations, but that is simply not the case.When revolutionary material is available to genuine public scrutiny, and when that material hasn't been as effectively and convincingly discredited as these texts have been, intellectual change comes with relative ease.

I do hope Ms. Hyland is merely a victim of poor training and bad judgment.As of this moment, the Miccinelli documents do not carry enough legitimacy for her to depend on them as much as she does.

A most fascinating life story
The Jesuit & The Incas: The Extraordinary Life Of Padre Blas Valera, S.j. by Sabine Hyland (Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Norbert College and co-director of a multidisciplinary project studying the Chanka people of Peru) is the informed and informative biography of Father Blas Valera, a man born in the 1500's to a native Incan mother and Spanish father. A Jesuit in sixteenth-century Peru, Blas Valera dared to believe and spread word that the Incan culture, religion, and language were equal to the Christian way of life -- a view that his superiors claimed was heresy and for which they compelled his imprisonment and exile. Blas Valera allegedly died at the hands of English pirates in 1597, yet a recent discovery among private documents suggest that Valera's death was faked by Jesuits, and that he returned to Peru to continue teaching his followers. A most fascinating life story written with a keen eye to research and detail, The Jesuit & The Incas is a highly recommended contribution to Peruvian History in general, and the New World history of the Catholic Church in the 16th century in particular. ... Read more

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Peasant and Nation offers a major new statement on the making of national politics. Comparing the popular political cultures and discourses of postcolonial Mexico and Peru, Florencia Mallon provides a groundbreaking analysis of their effect on the evolution of these nation states. As political history from a variety of subaltern perspectives, the book takes seriously the history of peasant thought and action and the complexity of community politics. It reveals the hierarchy and the heroism, the solidarity and the surveillance, the exploitation and the reciprocity, that coexist in popular political struggle.With this book Mallon not only forges a new path for Latin American history but challenges the very concept of nationalism. Placing it squarely within the struggles for power between colonized and colonizing peoples, she argues that nationalism must be seen not as an integrated ideology that puts the interest of the nation above all other loyalties, but as a project for collective identity over which many political groups and coalitions have struggled. Ambitious and bold, Peasant and Nation both draws on monumental archival research in two countries and enters into spirited dialogue with the literatures of post-colonial studies, gender studies, and peasant studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for anyone interested in nationalism
Mallon's theory of "peasant nationalism" is thought provoking for anyone interested in the construction of nationalism. Her work is a great example of how comparative historical research in Latin America can yield new insights for historians in other fields. Not only is her work instructive for those interested in popular conceptions of what it means to be in a nation, but her narrative is well written and engaging ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes of the World, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1609 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Provides comprehensive coverage of the foods and recipes of approximately 75 cultural groups from more than 60 countries. Entries provide 10-15 recipes for each group and include data on the agriculture and dietary habits of each group as well as an overview of each group's nutrition and health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dated, but still valuable for understanding Peru.
This is not a travel guide.It is a culture, people and politics guide that will set you smack in the center of Peru.Though in dire need of being updated, it is still recommended for those that are serious about visiting and understanding this largely ignored South American gem.This (along with a good travel guide, (ie. Footprint Peru 4th ed. - see my review) should be in your suitcase before departure.

Jane Holligan's writing is clear, concise and without a political tilt.She clearly notes "there has been no shift of wealth to the poor... and power in Peru remains highly concentrated."The book is politically dated (pre-2000) and leaves one wanting Holligan to write an update; especially now since ex-president Fujimori's dirty subterfuge has been disclosed and the recently elected President Toledo is suffering a massive crash in his approval ratings (from 84% after the election to 14% May 2003)

Her sections on the economy and society are informative and succinct.The poor (54% of the society) struggle and live hand-to-mouth while the "wealth and power remains highly concentrated in Peru."Twelve families, the so-called `Twelve Apostles, were so powerful that they formed an advisory committee to previous presidents.This is still a country of masters and servants.

Areas of improvement are in the mediocre maps and sparse and dated "Further Reading section". When you finish the 96 pages you will have a solid perspective of this country.Although this book is dated I still recommend this book for anyone visiting or interested in Peru.

In-flight briefing.
The flight from JFK to Lima is about 8 hours, more than enough time to read this handy book several times over. Really, it is a good general introduction to everything you want to know to take advantage of the wonders of such a diverse country, while making you more sensitive to their history and culture. Highly recommended.

Peru in nut-shell
This is a really good book for anyone who wants to to know the basics about Peru. Well written, interesting, compact, up-to-date. It is not a travel guide, really, but as the title says "a guide to the people,politics and culture". Easily read in one night, after which you knowif you want to know more or not. A perfect starter's book. ... Read more

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Chapters: Sican Culture. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 71. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Sican Culture is the name archaeologist Izumi Shimada, founder of the Sican Archaeological Project, gave to a culture that predated the Inca in what is now the north coast of Peru between about 750-1375 AD. Sican means Temple of the moon. The Sican culture is also referred to as Lambayeque culture, after the name of the region in Peru. There is still controversy over whether the two are separate cultures. The Sican culture is divided into three periods based on cultural changes (Sican 2007). The Sican were a coastal state, inhabiting the northern coast of Peru near the La Leche and Lambayeque rivers. The archaeological sites span the Lambayeque region, including the Motupe, La Leche, Lambayeque, and Zaña valleys, near modern day Chiclayo (Sican 2007). An extensive number of sites are situated in the Batan Grande area of the La Leche Valley. The climate of the area during Sican occupation was similar to the current climate, despite changes in landscape accumulated in the 600 years since the end of the culture. The drought-and-flood epidemic seen in the region for the past 1500 years did not spare the Sican culture during its lifetime (Goldstein and Shimada 2007, p. 49). The Early Sican period began around 750 AD and lasted until 900 AD. Not much is known about this early period of the Sican culture due to a lack of artifacts, but it seems that the Sican were probably descendants of the Moche (which fell around 800 AD) based on shared motifs in the artifacts recovered (Shimada 2000, p. 52). Other similar groups include Cajamarca, Wari and Pachacamac. Remains found in the archaeological locations have determined that this culture maintained commercial exchange with populations from Ecuador ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=6874594 ... Read more

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288 Illustrations, 196 in colours. This work is a compendium of general ideas on the development of the principle cultures of prehispanic Peru, from the origins of Andean Man until the epoch of the Inca Empire. The book's purpose is to awaken an interest in the prehistory of Peru. ... Read more

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One of the richest and most complex civilizations in ancient America evolved around Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and northern Bolivia. This book is the first comprehensive synthesis of four thousand years of prehistory for the entire Titicaca region. It is a fascinating story of the transition from hunting and gathering to early agriculture, to the formation of the Tiwanaku and Pucara civilizations, and to the double conquest of the region, first by the powerful neighboring Inca in the fifteenth century and a century later by the Spanish Crown. Based on more than fifteen years of field research in Peru and Bolivia, Charles Stanish's book brings together a wide range of ethnographic, historical, and archaeological data, including material that has not yet been published. This landmark work brings the author's intimate knowledge of the ethnography and archaeology in this region to bear on major theoretical concerns in evolutionary anthropology.Stanish provides a broad comparative framework for evaluating how these complex societies developed. After giving an overview of the region's archaeology and cultural history, he discusses the history of archaeological research in the Titicaca Basin, as well as its geography, ecology, and ethnography. He then synthesizes the data from six archaeological periods in the Titicaca Basin within an evolutionary anthropological framework.Titicaca Basin prehistory has long been viewed through the lens of first Inca intellectuals and the Spanish state. This book demonstrates that the ancestors of the Aymara people of the Titicaca Basin rivaled the Incas in wealth, sophistication, and cultural genius. The provocative data and interpretations of this book will also make us think anew about the rise and fall of other civilizations throughout history.34 b/w photographs, 12 line illustrations, 37 maps, 19 tables ... Read more

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Though the law and courts of nineteenth-century Peru were institutions created by and for the ruling elite, women of all classes used the system to negotiate the complexities of property rights, childrearing, and marriage, and often to defend their very definitions of honor. Drawing on the trial transcripts of Cajamarca, a northern Peruvian province, from more than a century ago, this book shares eye-opening details about life among this community, in which reputation could determine a woman's chances of survival. Exploring the processes of courtship, seduction, and familial duties revealed in these court records, historian Tanja Christiansen has unearthed a compelling panorama that includes marital strife, slander, disobedience, street brawls, and spousal abuse alongside documents that give evidence of affection and devotion. Her research also yields much new information about the protocols for conflict and cooperation among nineteenth-century Peruvian women from all social strata, and the prevalence of informal unions in an economy driven in large part by migratory male labor. Reviving a little-known aspect of Latin American history, Christiansen's book simultaneously brings to light an important microcosm of women's history during the nineteenth century. ... Read more

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The overthrow of Viceroy Joaquí­n de la Pezuela on 29 January 1821 has not received much attention from historians, who have tended to view it as a simple military uprising. Yet in this careful study of the episode, based on deep archival research, Patricia Marks reveals it to be a pivotal event in the emerging commercial conflict between liberal free-traders and protectionists that retarded the establishment of a stable national state in post-independence Peru. The overthrow of the viceroy thereby may be seen as an early manifestation of Latin American praetorianism, in which a particular sector of the civilian population, unable to prevail politically and unwilling to compromise, pressures army officers to act in order to save the state. ... Read more