Encyclopedia of the Incas

Gary Urton · Adriana von Hagen

Jun 2015 · Rowman & Littlefield

About this ebook

The Inca Empire existed for fewer than 100 years, yet ruled more subjects than either the Aztecs or the Maya and occupied a territory stretching nearly 3000 miles. The Incas left no system of writing; what we know of them has been gleaned from the archaeological record and accounts written following the Spanish invasion. In this A-to-Z encyclopedia, Gary Urton and Adriana von Hagen, together with over thirty contributors, provide a broad introduction to the fascinating civilization of the Incas, including their settlements, culture, society, celebrations, and achievements.

Following a broad introduction, 128 individual entries explore wide-ranging themes (religion, architecture, farming) and specific topics (ceremonial drinking cup, astronomy), interweaving ethnohistoric and archaeological research with nuanced interpretation. Each entry provides suggestions for further reading. Sidebars profiling chroniclers and researchers of Inca life—ranging from José de Acosta and Cristóbal de Albornoz to Maria Rostworowski and R. Tom Zuidema—add depth and context for the cultural entries. Cross-references, alphabetical and topical lists of entries, and a thorough index help readers navigate the volume. A chronology, selected bibliography, regional map, and almost ninety illustrations round out the volume. In sum, the Encyclopedia of the Incas provides a unique, comprehensive resource for scholars, as well as the general public, to explore the civilization of the Incas—the largest empire of the pre-Columbian New World.

About the author

Gary Urton is Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Pre-Columbian Studies at Harvard University. His publications include At the Crossroads of the Earth and the Sky, The History of a Myth, The Social Life of Numbers,Inca Myths and Signs of the Inka Khipu. Adriana von Hagen is cofounder of the Museo Leymebamba in Chachapoyas, Peru, and writes on the archaeology of Peru. Her publications include The Incas and The Cities of the Ancient Andes (both with Craig Morris).