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Wonders of Man
Machu Picchu
Describes the history and modern discovery of the hidden mountain city and portrays the culture of its Incan builders
- GenresHistoryNonfictionTravel
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
John Hemming
64 books50 followersDr. John Hemming, CMG is one of the world's experts on Brazilian Indians, the Amazon environment, the Incas, Peruvian archaeology, The Royal Geographical Society, and the history of exploration generally. He is also Chairman of Hemming Group Ltd., a company that publishes trade magazines and organises trade exhibitions and conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 22, 2009
Jan. 29 - '09
Hello!
Back from Peru - I want to point out that this book gives the most shockingly brutal account of Pizarro's senseless brutality at Cajamarca against Atahualpa and 6,000 unarmed Indians pps. 104 - 114
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original comments:
John Hemming http://www.johnhemming.co.uk/ had the help of the Newsweek Book Division's editor, art director, copy and picture editors, to create this wonderful book about the amazing Inca culture. With them, he takes us back to Hiram Bingham's 1911 expedition, to the largest archaeological site in South America, introduces the sophisticated Chavin and Moche cultures that preceded the Inca, and describes, with first-hand, 16th century, eyewitness accounts, the conquistadores brutality, greed, bigotry, deception and unabashed 'conquest' of the native population.
The Inca, like their Chavin predecessors, were accomplished in agriculture, architecture and developed a cohesive political structure where the population was organized, well fed, clothed, and different regions aided one another when food was scarce.
The (in)famous recounting of Inca's promise to pay the Spanish a room full of gold, which they regarded as the "sweat of the sun" and "tears of the moon," was heart breaking. Some rare examples remain of the Chimu and Chavin goldsmiths art remain although countless artifacts were melted down. Even Franciscan nuns wept as the last Inca was wrongly put to death.
One anecdote comes to mind. A 16th century traveler described an Inca being served food by women when some food fell, soiling his garment. The Inca went to another room, changed, and returned, wearing the most beautiful soft brown cape the European visitor had ever seen. When he asked how it was made, he learned it was constructed with bat skins!
I won't give away the climax at the last section of the book, "Machu Picchu in Literature," but it takes you soaring, as if you are actually there.
My friend says not to be mad at the Spanish. It's part of their history and culture. I look forward to meeting her family and might even hear her grandma speak Quechua.
Hello!
Back from Peru - I want to point out that this book gives the most shockingly brutal account of Pizarro's senseless brutality at Cajamarca against Atahualpa and 6,000 unarmed Indians pps. 104 - 114
---------------------
original comments:
John Hemming http://www.johnhemming.co.uk/ had the help of the Newsweek Book Division's editor, art director, copy and picture editors, to create this wonderful book about the amazing Inca culture. With them, he takes us back to Hiram Bingham's 1911 expedition, to the largest archaeological site in South America, introduces the sophisticated Chavin and Moche cultures that preceded the Inca, and describes, with first-hand, 16th century, eyewitness accounts, the conquistadores brutality, greed, bigotry, deception and unabashed 'conquest' of the native population.
The Inca, like their Chavin predecessors, were accomplished in agriculture, architecture and developed a cohesive political structure where the population was organized, well fed, clothed, and different regions aided one another when food was scarce.
The (in)famous recounting of Inca's promise to pay the Spanish a room full of gold, which they regarded as the "sweat of the sun" and "tears of the moon," was heart breaking. Some rare examples remain of the Chimu and Chavin goldsmiths art remain although countless artifacts were melted down. Even Franciscan nuns wept as the last Inca was wrongly put to death.
One anecdote comes to mind. A 16th century traveler described an Inca being served food by women when some food fell, soiling his garment. The Inca went to another room, changed, and returned, wearing the most beautiful soft brown cape the European visitor had ever seen. When he asked how it was made, he learned it was constructed with bat skins!
I won't give away the climax at the last section of the book, "Machu Picchu in Literature," but it takes you soaring, as if you are actually there.
My friend says not to be mad at the Spanish. It's part of their history and culture. I look forward to meeting her family and might even hear her grandma speak Quechua.
October 24, 2017
This book was great preparation for my trip to Peru. Easy to read and great photos. It contains a nice history of Peru, not just Machu Picchu. In fact the Machu Picchu part is only one or two chapters in the book. This book does not cover any history after 1600 or so, except a section on Hiram Bingham's rediscovery of Machu Picchu. This book was written in 1981, so it will be out of date regarding any more recent discoveries and theories. Although it is an older book, I though it described the history in a manner that was not as Euro/Spain centered as it I found in some slightly earlier books.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews