Narrative of the Incas

by Juan de Betanzos, Roland Hamilton (Translator), Dana Buchanan (Editor)

One of the earliest chronicles of the Inca empire was written in the 1550s by Juan de Betanzos. Although scholars have long known of this work, only eighteen chapters were actually available until the 1980s when the remaining sixty-four chapters were discovered in the collection of the Fundación Bartolomé March in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Narrative of the Incas presents the first complete English translation of the original manuscript of this key document. Although written by a Spaniard, it presents an authentic Inca worldview, drawn from the personal experiences and oral traditions told to Betanzos by his Inca wife, Doña Angelina, and other members of her aristocratic family who lived during the reigns of the last Inca rulers, Huayna Capac Huascar and Atahualpa. Betanzos wrote a history of the Inca empire that focuses on the major rulers and the contributions each one made to the growth of the empire and of Inca culture. Filled with new insights into Inca politics, marriage, laws, the calendar, warfare, and other matters, Narrative of the Incas is essential reading for everyone interested in this ancient civilization.

Genres: History, Spanish Literature, The Americas, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting account that presents the perspective of the indigenous population, specifically Incan, of the Andes at the time of the conquest. Includes a decidely female perspectie which lends different information about child birth and rearing than might otherwise be included in such an account. This was my first foray into the Andean conquest after reading several accounts of Mexico, and I found this account to be very informative and interesting in terms of the historical accuracy, the cultural information given, and the insights of the author and the informants. A must read for any Ancient American or Colonial Latin Americanist.

[Dusan Jolovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a good insight in Inca's empire and its organization. Betanzos didn't have university degree so the manuscript is simple.
Overall, I liked the book and the information it gives. Whoever is interested in Incas civilization should read it.

[Dom Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine with absurdly long titles

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent legendary history of the lineage of Topa Inca Yupanque as related through the family historians of the Inca royal house in the 1550s