History of the Incas (Native American) [Paperback]

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (Author)

Book Description

Series: Native American | Publication Date: July 17, 1998

Primary source of information on pre-Conquest Incan history, traditions and chronology gives full details of ceremonies, festivals, and religious beliefs and provides detailed accounts of the origin of the Incas, ancient systems of land division, early settlements, biographical sketches, arrival of the Spaniards, execution of the last emperor, much more. 2 maps. Bibliography.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486404412
• ISBN-13: 978-0486404417
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,950,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Conquistadors History, July 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: History of the Incas (Native American) (Paperback)

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 circa 1570AD. Events and occurrences are vividly portrayed although the reader is always left with a sense of myth being mixed with fact. Also the annoying use of Italics to mark out the obvious and often contradictory statements forced to be included in the book by the Spanish Viceroy of the time is somewhat demeaning.

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

A stunning and informative read this work is equally capable of being a book of general interest or an accurate academic source. However the prime benefit of this book is not its authenticity but its rich detail that illustrates the lifestyle of the ancient Incas in a truly vivid manner. It is also interesting to note the strong religious superiority that is portrayed by the author and the attitudes of the Spanish conquistadors towards the Incas that were apparent during this period of history and to observe how these factors shaped the type of history that was recorded during this period, a fact that is all to easy to overlook.

3.0 out of 5 stars History, January 11, 2012

By 

Will Slatyer (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: History Of The Incas (Paperback)

I purchased the History of the Incas to try for some leadership coherence preceding the takeove by the Spanish. The publication is from a translation of a Spanish captain c.1572 of a history taken from descendants of the Incas. Unfortunately the timing of reigns of Inca kings does not make a great deal of sense to me, although maybe Inca scholars would understand.