"The Last Days of the Incas" by Kim MacQuarrie and, more light-hearted, "Turn Right at Machu Picchu" by Mark Adams.
Adams' book is an easy read and very entertaining and informative.
You'll learn interesting facts about Hiram Bingham, most importantly, he was NOT the first to discover Machu Picchu. Also, contrary to popular and generally accepted usage, you'll also learn there were technically no "Incas" or "Incan people"- There was one INCA who was the supreme ruler, and who of course, ruled the INCA Empire. The empire was not particularly "ancient" either and was relatively short-lived- it first appeared in the 12th century (during the High Middle Ages in Europe), reached its peak in the late 1400s, and was essentially gone by the late 1500's due to a perfect storm of rebellion, and the arrival of European diseases and invaders with more advanced weaponry. They had no written language so accounts of the Empire were composed by outsiders, primarily Spaniards, and its mythology and culture passed to successive generations by trained storytellers.
Comments
Adams' book is an easy read and very entertaining and informative.
You'll learn interesting facts about Hiram Bingham, most importantly, he was NOT the first to discover Machu Picchu. Also, contrary to popular and generally accepted usage, you'll also learn there were technically no "Incas" or "Incan people"- There was one INCA who was the supreme ruler, and who of course, ruled the INCA Empire. The empire was not particularly "ancient" either and was relatively short-lived- it first appeared in the 12th century (during the High Middle Ages in Europe), reached its peak in the late 1400s, and was essentially gone by the late 1500's due to a perfect storm of rebellion, and the arrival of European diseases and invaders with more advanced weaponry. They had no written language so accounts of the Empire were composed by outsiders, primarily Spaniards, and its mythology and culture passed to successive generations by trained storytellers.