The Inca Empire existed for fewer than 100 years, yet ruled more subjects than either the Aztecs or the Maya and occupied a territory stretching nearly 3000 miles. The Incas left no system of writing; what we know of them has been gleaned from the archaeological record and accounts written following the Spanish invasion. In this A-to-Z encyclopedia, Gary Urton and Adriana von Hagen, together with over thirty contributors, provide a broad introduction to the fascinating civilization of the Incas, including their settlements, culture, society, celebrations, and achievements. Following a broad introduction, 128 individual entries explore wide-ranging themes (religion, architecture, farming) and specific topics (ceremonial drinking cup, astronomy), interweaving ethnohistoric and archaeological research with nuanced interpretation. Each entry provides suggestions for further reading. Sidebars profiling chroniclers and researchers of Inca life—ranging from José de Acosta and Cristóbal de Albornoz to Maria Rostworowski and R. Tom Zuidema—add depth and context for the cultural entries. Cross-references, alphabetical and topical lists of entries, and a thorough index help readers navigate the volume. A chronology, selected bibliography, regional map, and almost ninety illustrations round out the volume. In sum, the Encyclopedia of the Incas provides a unique, comprehensive resource for scholars, as well as the general public, to explore the civilization of the Incas—the largest empire of the pre-Columbian New World.

It is 1492 when the discovery of the Americas by Columbus closes out the Middle Ages and sets the stage for the modern history of the New World. While new lands beckon adventure seekers focused on discovery, conquest, and settlement, a few hundred men sent forth by the King of Spain leave on expeditions to explore the new territories and search for gold and power. One of these adventurers, Pedro de Mérida, becomes a conquistador and chronicler of the New World – and one who will ultimately leave a vibrant record of his travels in Chile and Peru. In a fascinating retelling through six letters to the king, a sixty-year-old de Mérida documents his travels to the farthest regions of the Inca Empire. As he captures the spirit of adventure and invites others into his story of the conquest of Chile in his first three letters, the conquistador details the Diego de Almagro Expedition to Chile in 1535 to 1537 and the return to Peru, a distance of more than three thousand miles. The Adventure Chronicles of Conquistador Pedro de Mérida shares an unforgettable travel adventure back to a remote land and age when the search for gold and power dominated men’s actions as historical events shook the foundation of the mighty Inca Empire.