Reviews (20)

Excellent guidebook
This guide is indispensible if you are traveling to Machu Picchu. Nothing at the site is labeled, so having the book makes the experience much more meaningful, and allows you to interpret what you are seeing.

Essential for Machu Picchu
This book is a "must have" if you are visiting Machu Picchu.I carried this book in my backpack for 4 days on the Inca Trail hike and it was well worth carrying the extra weight.
Not so great
This is a decent guide book if you have only a few hours to spend in Machu Picchu. I had a day an a half and was somewhat disappointed by the book: too little solid info and too much "fluff". For instance, the enclosed maps number all the rooms and buildings, but the text mentions only a few, with no attempt made to guess the use/function of the other ones. Not enough explanation is given of which parts are original and which are reconstructed. The visiting routes are often confusing and I found that exploring on my own was easier. The historical context and info on Inca life is spread throughout the text instead of being presented up front. On the positive side, the USA's author's husband is a hydrological specialist and the info on Incas' water management is solid.
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Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Guidebooks    3. Inca architecture    4. Incas    5. Machu Picchu Site (Peru)    6. South America    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (10)

The Beauty of Beauty
I think that every person who lives in the Western Hemisphere needs to go to Peru or Bolivia and visit the ruins of one of the greatest civilazations that ever inhabited the earth at least once in there lifetime. There were the Egyptians, Athenians and the Incas. I visited Peru this past Xmas and this book made the trip 10 times more interesting. It opened my eyes to where I was standing, it opened my eyes to what I was looking at and it opened my eyes to the greatness of a people who were exploited in the latter years of there civilization later to be unsurped by the Spanish way of life.
Powerful, hard-hitting
John Hemming's "Conquest of the Incas" is a fascinating and detailed read of how Francisco Pizarro and his brotherhood of sixteenth century conquistadors wantonly crushed Peru's Inca Indian civilization. Citing from numerous first-hand accounts of the day, Hemming leaves no stone unturned.
The Definitive History
"Conquest of the Incas" is almost unquestionably the best book ever written about the 16th century Spanish conquest of the Inca empire in Peru and neighboring countries.It replaces Prescott's famous "Conquest of Peru," a brilliant piece of research and writing but one compiled at a Boston desk from archival materials. Hemming has much more personal familiarity with the subject and a much greater range of sources to draw on.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Latin America - South America   

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Chimes    3. Description and travel    4. Peru   

Reviews (13)

This Book Enhanced Our Trip!
For the University of Denver Water Law Review, Get it before you go, take it with you
Great book that goes way beyond the standard guide book fare.It inspired me to make the trip after reading it, to see first hand how the ancient Inca Empire created a complete fortified city in the sky, to trace the old Inca trails by the watchtower, the drawbrige and into the main gate with the view of city and the peak beyond. Other travel books have beautiful pictures and "where to eat and where to stay" for this citadel but very little information on how the city itself came into being and survived. Machu Picchu - A Civil Engineering Marvel
Abandoned for centuries and overgrown by dense subtropical forest, this awesome city in the sky has been the subject of speculation and conjecture since Hiram Bingham first disclosed it in 1911.Now, for the first time, the wonders of Machu Picchus' construction and water supply are revealed in a new book by Kenneth R. Wright and Alfredo Valencia Zegarra. Anyone who has read Bingham's Lost City of the Incas, or who has visited this ancient city of the Incas or who yearns to journeythere, should read this new and searching volume that delves into and solves many of the mysteries of Machu Picchu. Why was it built, how the site was selected, and what were the critical criterial criteria that were met to make the ridge top site suitable for an alternate home for the Inca Pachacuti? Machu Picchu served as a residence, a fortress and a holy place. The developement of a water supply, the construction of terraces for agriculture and the remarkable and enduring granite structures were well concealed by its unique location. Near vertical cliffs, the roaring Urubamba river all contributed to the concealment of Machu Picchu from the Spanish invaders How an ancient people, without the written word, without instruments and steel tools so capably built and prospered there for more than a century is now revealed in this landmark book that will increase both the awe and respect of the reader for the Inca people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities    2. Architecture    3. Civil Engineering (General)    4. Civil engineering    5. Engineering - Civil    6. Engineering - Hydraulic    7. Hydraulic Engineering (General)    8. Hydraulic engineering    9. Incas    10. Machu Picchu Site    11. Peru    12. Technology    13. Technology & Industrial Arts    14. American history: pre-Columbian period, BCE to c 1500    15. South American archaeology    16. Structural engineering    17. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (1)

Sidebar Information Erroneous/Out of Date
As the author of "The Complete Guide to Easter Island" (Easter Island Foundation, 2004), I recently read with keen interest the sidebar "The Incas and Easter Island" in the 2005 edition of "The Inca Trail" (p.97) and thought readers would find it helpful to know that the information in the sidebar is significantly out of date. In one case, it is completely erroneous.
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Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. South America    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Peru    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / South America    8. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Reviews (4)

An amazing Guide to Mystical Peru
Through this book Jorge and MaryAnn lead you on an unforgettable journey throughout Peru's Sacred Valley including Machu Picchu , Cuzco and Lake Titicaca. Jorge's teachings of Incan traditions, rituals and ceremonies allow the reader to feel connected with Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Sacred Apu (Mountain Spirits) and the Peruvian People.He speaks of the spirit world and one'sconnection to it through their authentic self. This book makes you want to board the nearest plane and travel to Peru to experience such a powerful and special place!

Magical! Get an insider's view on Peru, from a gifted steward of the Earth.
My husband and I had the incredible honor of meeting and traveling with Jorge Luis Delgado in Peru a few weeks prior to the release of this book. We went to Peru to visit the sacred sites and were blessed with Jorge as our local guide. We had no idea beforehand!
Wow!
If you have ever thought about travel to Peru, to see it's people and places then this book is very informative.But what a trip!This book is like the Holy Grail of Peru.It focuses on mystical Peru. Even if you never travel to Peru it will take you on a fascinating journey.It is also a fascinating story of a real Shaman living in our own time.A must read for anyone interested in Peru or mystical journies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Central America    2. Inca cosmology    3. Incas    4. Religion    5. Rites and ceremonies    6. South America    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Peru    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (11)

A rambling, biased, tome
The author examines Inka and Mayan myths using a variety of tools, and many, many words.To the first myth he applies the theories in Hamlets Mill to explain why the Foxes tail is black and pinpoint AD 650 as the rise of warfare in the Andes.From here it's mostly downhill.
Werner Herzog: Make this Film
This book is every bit as entertaining as the run-of-the-mill speculative/paranormal UFO-from-Atlantis books with which it is unfortunately cross-listed on Amazon,but the author's scholarly rigor makes it much more satisfying.Sullivan supports his fascinatingly unconventional conclusions with evidence, sound reasoning, and a bit of self-critical skepticism.
Cosmic Relations Incas and Stars
The Secret of the Incas : Myth, Astronomy,
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Comparative Religion    4. History: World    5. Inca astronomy    6. Inca mythology    7. Inca philosophy    8. Latin America - Mexico    9. American history: pre-Columbian period, BCE to c 1500    10. History / General    11. Peru   

Reviews (4)

Excelent, well thoughtout arguments
I read this book as part of a research project into the rise and fall of the Mexica, or Aztec. This book offered an interesting view of the Aztec, as a warfaring society which was propelled by a religous zelous that got out of hand and eventually caused the destabilization of a great empire. While I happen to disagree with certain arguments in this book they are all well justified with valid arguments. This field is constantly changing and is full of writers who don't have the background or the backing for their arguments, this is not one of them. Conrad and Demerest use fresh, compelling, and well thoughtout arguments to make an interesting point. If researching the Inca and Aztec this is a must read to achieve a good view of these two expansionist empires.

Has good and bad points
I read this book for a class on the emergence of state society.The book was great for its review of Aztec ideology and its resulting effects on the society.Too many authors ignore the importance of the way people think.However, archaeological evidence does not support their conclusions about the Inca's ancestor worship.But the book was good read, very fast paced and enjoyable.I recommend it.

Very detailed.
The book really gets into the nuts and bolts of the empires, showing you how ideas could give birth to and help expand the two cultures. But it also shows how the same ideas could hinder and even start to destroy the empireslater in their existance.Yet it is not hard to read and even delightfulat some points.They answer alot of questions I had about the Aztec andInca, making sure to support everything they say with lots of details.Amust of any history library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. Aztec mythology    3. Aztecs    4. General    5. History    6. Incas    7. Latin America - Mexico    8. Politics and government    9. Religion - Church History    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Aztecs--History    13. History / Mexico    14. History / Native American    15. Religion-General    16. Social Science-Archaeology    17. South American archaeology    18. The Americas   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. American history: pre-Columbian period, BCE to c 1500 CE    3. Latin America    4. Mexico    5. Peru   

Reviews (6)

Still makes for good reading
In 1908, on a diplomatic mission he attained in the interest of increasing his understanding of South America and thus qualify as a professor of South American studies at Yale, Hiram Bingham casually accepted an invitation to visit the site of Incan ruins in Peru.His readings of the original Spanish conquistadores and explorers suggested there were more never found by the Europeans and he returned with an adventurous expedition.In 1911, on his own with a couple of local Indian farmers who were quietly using the land, he found the ruins of Machu Picchu high in the Andes under jungle overgrowth. Thus he ushered in the new era in Incan scholarship, 20th century adventurous exploration, archeology and, what he did not imagine at the time, tourism.
great adventure reading
Although some (actually many)of Bingham's ideas/theories have since been disproved, this is none-the-less a great true story about how he discovered Machu Pichu. He was actually a professor (and political representative) that went to Peru to increase his knowledge about South American history for teaching purposes. He decided to go back with a team of experts to try and find the lost city of the incas.And he did find it! It is great "adventure" reading...hiking through jungles, steep and dangerous terrain, exploring a long forgotten (and uncharted) area of Peru.
The Lost City of the Incas
Hiram Bingham goes on an exploration with a couple specialist friends to find the four capitals of the ancient Incan civilization.On the way, he goes through countless jungles, helpful indian cities, and steep mountain trails.The first part of the book is dedicated to informing the reader of interesting information about the Incas. The second and third parts described the trip through "Inca-land".I would request this book to anyone who wants to explore the Amazon Jungle someday. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Latin America - South America    6. American history: pre-Columbian period, BCE to c 1500    7. History / Ancient / General    8. Peru    9. STUDY NOTES - SparkNotes    10. South American archaeology   

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Corpus Christi Festival    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Cuzco    6. History - General    7. Incas    8. Latin America - General    9. Latin America - South America    10. Native American    11. Peru    12. Religion    13. Rites and ceremonies    14. Social Science    15. Sociology    16. Africa    17. African history    18. Religion: general   

Reviews (2)

Balanced and Astute
This book stands out, among many others, for the quality of insight that Rebecca Stone-Miller brings to her study of Andean art. Not content with simple typology and iconography, her account is illuminated by the cultural constants - "duality,reciprocity, hierarchy, and embeddedness in nature" (p. 218) that she finds in the underlying Andean cultures. Art history, in these terms, becomes an exploration of meaning, both of the art that is produced and of the culture that produces it. It's rare to find so much insight in an introductory book; I highly recommend it. Excellent historical overview of native Andean art.
This is an excellent overview of native Andean artform the earliest perod through Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari, to Incan. Covers architecture, textiles ,pottery and metallic arts. Looks at the main themes of religious and secular art in these various mediums. Text is accompanied by many black and white photographs, drawings and plans. Some photographs are in colour.Read more

Subjects:  1. American Pre-Columbian Art    2. Andes Region    3. Archaeology    4. Art    5. Art & Art Instruction    6. Art, Andean    7. Caribbean & Latin American    8. History - Ancient & Classical    9. History - General    10. Indian art    11. Indians of South America    12. Material culture    13. Andes    14. Architecture    15. Art of indigenous peoples    16. Textile arts   

Reviews (3)

Definitely Underwhelmed
Having recently visited Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail I wanted to obtain a first-rate "coffee-table" style book to commemorate my experience and to render handy various names for various sights I saw along the way.When in Peru I saw several marvelous, fat volumes which contained all the information, photgraphs and poetic insight about the awesome Inca people and their accomplishments that I would ever desire. I figured I could score one off of Amazon once I returned home.
Inca Sacrifices and The Reasons Given.
Ten years ago, I read a book about the child sacrifices the Inca civilization carried out at Machu Picchu.It has stuck with me all these years and, when I saw the Nova program, "Ice Mummies" all of that disturbing feeling came back.How could they do that to the children?!
Impressive academic achievement, flawed in some conclusions
This book is a companion volume to the largest exhibition of Inca artifacts in the US.A complete overhaul of previous scientific investigations was done using the most modern equipment and techniques of contemporary archaeology.Although it builds on the work of Hiram Bingham, some of Bingham's conclusions were wrong, and are corrected here.The quality of the book itself, which includes many color photographs including a catalogue of all the pieces in the exhibit, is first-rate.Those new to Machu Picchu and the Inca, or those with an in-depth knowledge of the subject will find something of value in this book.I found the chapter on the contemporary significance of Machu Picchu to be particularly interesting.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Anthropology - General    3. Antiquities    4. Archaeology    5. History - General History    6. Incas    7. Latin America - South America    8. Machu Picchu Site (Peru)    9. Native American Anthropology    10. Santuario Historico de Machu    11. Santuario Histâorico de Machu Picchu (Peru)    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Yale Peruvian Expedition    15. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    16. History / South America    17. Peru    18. South American archaeology    19. c 1500 to c 1600   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - General    6. Andes    7. Incan Empire    8. Peru    9. Prehistoric    10. Social Science / Sociology / General    11. South American archaeology   

Reviews (13)

good book good seler
a great and by-now classic book on the theme of shamanism by an anthopologist and psychologist. I LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE HE TRIES IN IT TO DECRIBE HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN COMMON WORDS

Reality or fiction?
For those seeking more info about Dr. Villoldo's lack of detail and other concerns regarding truthfulness in contemporary shamanism, please see "The Selling of the Shaman and the Problem of Informant Legitimacy" which appears in the Summer 1990 issue of 'Anthropological Research', Volume 46, Number 2. Dr. Villoldo is prominently featured.
reads well
In this book Villoldo, perhaps one of the most well known teachers of Inca shamanism in the West, describes his initial encounters with the shamanic world.The book is devoted to Villoldo's experiences with twoPeruvian healers - don Ramon Silva (an ayahuascero from the Peruvian Amazon) and don Antonio Morales, (a Qero style healer and philosophy professor!).Villoldo's recounting of Peruvian healing practices isgripping and the final chapter, in which he describes the death of his teacher's teacher in a little cottage on the Peruvian altiplano, is simply breath-taking.I also quite liked the description of the "operation" which allowed V. to see energy patterns and his animal allies. Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Ayahuasca ceremony    3. Body, Mind & Spirit    4. Description and travel    5. General    6. Hallucinogenic drugs and relig    7. Hallucinogenic drugs and religious experience    8. New Age    9. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    10. Peru    11. Religious Anthropology    12. Shamanism    13. Spiritual Healing    14. Spirituality - Shamanism    15. Villoldo, Alberto    16. Alternative belief systems    17. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Shamanism    18. Complementary Medicine    19. Mind, body, spirit: mysticism & self-awareness   

Reviews (4)

Not what I looked for
Before visiting Peru, I bought a few books on the history and archaelogy of the land, to prepare me for what I would see. After studying this book, my understanding of pre-Inca and Inca civilizations is still extremely lacunary. This book does not place the archaeological finds in a meaningful historical context. In lieu of history we are given an abstract of Inca legends - interesting but not enough. Surely more is known or can be extracted from the archeaological records! The relations between the various civilizations is skipped over. On the positive side is an attempt to explain some features of the andean civilizations in terms of the echology of the land.

Great resource
I use this book a great deal as a resource for research on ancient Peru.Although this book is not "made pretty" with lots of color photographs and has a textbook feel, it does contain a wealth of information and scholarship.It is a must read for anyone wanting to learn about the ancient cultures of Peru in depth.

Ancestors more advanced than the Incas
It is a shame that THE INCAS has to be stressed to sell a book that is so good on their ancestors. In North Peru, for example, the Moche left a wealth of advanced (& colorful) information & technology skills of which Peru does not take advantage, especially in terms of tourism. See unitru.edu.pe/arq for the cultures of North Peru. We await the revised edition. Michael White & Clara Bravo, Trujillo Peru Tour Guides. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Archaeology    3. Architecture    4. General    5. Latin America - South America    6. Pre-Columbian Archaeology    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. American history: pre-Columbian period, BCE to c 1500    10. BCE to c 500 CE    11. Peru    12. South American archaeology    13. c 1000 CE to c 1500    14. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Reviews (7)

The best overview to Andean Mysticism
This is a great overview to Andean Mysticism.It covers a wide variety of sources into one well done collection.The author has done her homework and it shows.This books gives you a very strong impression of Incan and Mayan thought.Very well done.
Just a little to new agey for my taste
The author believes that we are of a higher consciousness and order, she also believes that matter is light frozen in form.The author links the Biblical Elohim with ancient gods that are dedicated to help humanity evolve. ''Possible''. This is a short but interesting book on ancient knowledge. Worth a look at.

Fabulous book!
Hi.This book is required reading if you're considering a trip to Peru, Mexico, or are currently on your own mystical cosmic voyage. There are so many wonderful bits of information and it really helped me understand a lot about things that had happened in my life during and after trips to Peru, Greece, Mexico, and other power spots. If you're inquisitive and steadfastly "on the Path", then this should be in your hands. Five stars. To the author: Please write more books, Judith!Thank you for bringing forth this incredible book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies - Tribes    3. General    4. Incas    5. Mayas    6. Miscellanea    7. New Age    8. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    9. Peru    10. Prophecies (Occultism)    11. Prophecy    12. Religion    13. Body, Mind & Spirit / New Thought    14. Fortune-telling & divination    15. Guatemala    16. Indigenous peoples    17. Myths & mythology    18. c 1000 CE to c 1500    19. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Subjects:  1. American Pre-Columbian Art    2. Ancient Art    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. History - Prehistoric & Primitive    6. Art / History / Prehistoric & Primitive    7. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    8. Peru   

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology   

Subjects:  1. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Latin America - South America    6. Native American    7. History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies)    8. History / South America    9. JUVY-WORKBOOKS - JUV WORKBOOKS