In 1532, when Pizarro conquered Peru, the Inca realm was one of the largest empires on earth, graced by gold masterpieces, towns with great palaces and temples, and an impressive network of roads. But this glittering culture only obscured the rich and diverse civilizations that had preceded it: Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Tiwanaku, Huari, and Chimu. Described as a "masterly study" and an "outstanding volume" on its first publication, The Incas and Their Ancestors quickly established itself as the best general introduction to the cultures and civilizations of ancient Peru. Now this classic text has been fully updated for the revised edition. New discoveries over the last decade are integrated throughout. The occupation of Peru's desert coast can now be traced back to 12,000 BC and ensuing maritime adaptations are examined in early littoral societies that mummified their dead and others that were mound builders. The spread of Andean agriculture is related to fresh data on climate, and protracted drought is identified as a recurrent contributor to the rise and fall of civilizations in the Cordillera. The results of recent excavations enliven understanding of coastal Moche and Nazca societies and the ancient highland states of Huari and Tiwanaku. Architectural models accompanying burials provide fresh interpretations of the palaces of imperial Chan Chan, while the origins of the Incas are given new clarity by a spate of modern research on America's largest native empire. -- Description from http://www.amazon.com (Feb. 13, 2012).

Catalouge of an exhibition presented by WONDERS at the Florida International Museum

Introduces the striking artwork and fascinating rituals of this highland culture through approximately one hundred works of art and cultural treasures.

Drawing on research conducted in Cuzco, Peru,The Wari Civilization and Their Descendants: Imperial Transformation in Pre-Inca Cuzco, Peru analyzes the political and social transformations that led to the downfall of the Wari civilization in the Andean Middle Horizon period (AD 500–1000) and resulted in the rise of the Inca state. The contributors to this collection present evidence of the Wari civilization’s robust, imperialistic occupation of Cuzco, and argue that this presence laid the groundwork for later regional polities that can be traced to the Late Horizon Inca period (AD 1476–1532). This collection fills a gap in scholarly literature on Cuzco prehistory, the provincial southern highlands of the Wari civilization, and early imperialism in the Andes.

Documents the epic conquest of the Inca Empire as well as the decades-long insurgency waged by the Incas against the Conquistadors, in a narrative history that is partially drawn from the storytelling traditions of the Peruvian Amazon Yora people. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.

"Anthony Aveni reveals how !Kung and Mursi hunter-gatherers depended on signals in the sky for their survival and sustenance; how Polynesian sailors navigated a seemingly limitless watery world by star bearings; how social cohesion in cultures as diverse as the Pawnee and the Inca was mirrored in celestial imagery; and how the cosmic connection between the arrangement of Chinese and Aztec cities and the constellations served as an expression of political authority." "For most of human history, people found meaning in the dance of the cosmic denizens. Today, many aspects of this intimate contact between daily life and what happens in the sky have disappeared. Did our ancestors have an understanding of the cosmos that we ourselves lack? How and why did it all happen? These are the questions addressed in this engaging and erudite book."--BOOK JACKET.

Explore daily living inside the Inca empire, the largest empire in the western hemisphere before European colonization. The Incas' subjugation of all types of cultures in western South America led to a wide variety of experiences, from military leaders to ruling class to conquered peoples. Readers will uncover all aspects of Inca culture, including politics and social hierarchy, the life cycle, agriculture, architecture, women's roles, dress and ornamentation, food and drink, festivals, religious rituals, the calendar, and the unique Inca form of taxation. Utilizing the best of current research and excavation, the second edition includes new material throughout as well as a new chapter on Machu Picchu, and a day in the life section focusing on an Inca family and a servant family in Machu Picchu. Concluding chapters discuss Inca contributions to modern society and the dangers of present destruction of archaeological sites.