Well-researched description of the Spanish invasion and decimation of the Incan empire, which had only just conquered and consolidated several other South American tribals groups at the time of Spanish arrival. The author tries to present an unbiased and balanced view but ultimately, many prejudices and default Western assumptions come through, along with at dismissing and minimizing the cruelty of Spanish conquest particularly with regards to Indigenous women (calling them "concubines" or "mistresses"). An easy mainstream read nonetheless.
Review of 'The Last Days of the Incas' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
The rise and fall of the empire known to its inhabitants as Tawantinsuyu, the "Realm of Four Parts", was one of the most consequential periods in South American history, ending in catastrophe for the indigenous peoples of the region. The story of how the one of the largest known empires in pre-Columbian America - a prosperous, technologically sophisticated state ruling an area from southern Columbia to northern Chile and from the Pacific coast to the edges of the Amazon rainforest, and established in an astonishingly short period of time, existing for just short of a century before Spanish conquest - fell apart under assault from a tiny force of gold-obsessed conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro is told here in an engaging narrative style that, though exceptionally well-written for popular history, nonetheless can leave one wondering how much is speculation versus documented fact.
The book's greatest contribution is in drawing attention β¦
The rise and fall of the empire known to its inhabitants as Tawantinsuyu, the "Realm of Four Parts", was one of the most consequential periods in South American history, ending in catastrophe for the indigenous peoples of the region. The story of how the one of the largest known empires in pre-Columbian America - a prosperous, technologically sophisticated state ruling an area from southern Columbia to northern Chile and from the Pacific coast to the edges of the Amazon rainforest, and established in an astonishingly short period of time, existing for just short of a century before Spanish conquest - fell apart under assault from a tiny force of gold-obsessed conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro is told here in an engaging narrative style that, though exceptionally well-written for popular history, nonetheless can leave one wondering how much is speculation versus documented fact.
The book's greatest contribution is in drawing attention to ongoing resistance to Spanish rule after the initial conquest, starting with the events that led puppet emperor Manco Inca to stage a massive uprising against the Spaniards in 1536. Facing imminent defeat after failing to retake the capital of Cuzco despite a nearly year-long siege, Manco Inca fled to a remote jungle region across the Andes where he and his descendants continued to rule over an independent rump state for several decades. The rebel forces waged guerrilla war on the Spaniards until the sack of their capital of Vilcabamba and capture and execution of the last Inca emperor, Tupac Amaru, in 1572.
Shifting focus in the final chapters to the search for the ruins of Vilcabamba in modern times, the book ended on a rather weak note. While interesting, it's not clear why the author thought the rediscovery of the lost Inca rebel capital - and its relation to the much more famous ruins at Machu Picchu, which for a time were falsely thought to be the "last refuge of the Incas" - deserved to be explained in minute detail over the course of two chapters and about 80 pages. As my wife put it, it felt like the story had ended but kept going anyway.
Review of 'The Last Days of the Incas' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Very interesting to see that empire building wasn't just a problem for the Spanish but also for the Incas. I guess the problem was really for those around them.
