The History of the Incas

Latin American and Latino Art and Culture

by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, Jean-Jacques Decoster, Brian S. Bauer (Contributor)

The History of the Incas may be the best description of Inca life and mythology to survive Spanish colonization of Peru. Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, a well-educated sea captain and cosmographer of the viceroyalty, wrote the document in Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire, just forty years after the arrival of the first Spaniards. The royal sponsorship of the work guaranteed Sarmiento direct access to the highest Spanish officials in Cuzco. It allowed him to summon influential Incas, especially those who had witnessed the fall of the Empire. Sarmiento also traveled widely and interviewed numerous local lords ( curacas ), as well as surviving members of the royal Inca families. Once completed, in an unprecedented effort to establish the authenticity of the work, Sarmiento's manuscript was read, chapter by chapter, to forty-two indigenous authorities for commentary and correction. The scholars behind this new edition (the first to be published in English since 1907) went to similarly great lengths in pursuit of accuracy. Translators Brian Bauer and Vania Smith used an early transcript and, in some instances, the original document to create the text. Bauer and Jean-Jacques Decoster's introduction lays bare the biases Sarmiento incorporated into his writing. It also theorizes what sources, in addition to his extensive interviews, Sarmiento relied upon to produce his history. Finally, more than sixty new illustrations enliven this historically invaluable document of life in the ancient Andes.

Genres: History, Ancient History

284 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2007

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to rate a work that is of valid historical value yet, as a first-person narrative, is highly colored by not only the viewpoints of its author but the fact he was only able to write from his own cultural vantage and was unaware of most facets of the Inka beyond what the Spanish had discerned in their short time exposed to Inkan culture.

That all said, there is no doubting that an early account like this provides details that would otherwise be unobtainable, even if the narrative is greatly slanted. Once you get beyond the overwrought period language of de Gamboa—which rivals anything you'd expect in the worst Disney version of colonial dandies who think too highly of themselves, but is the real thing—you'll encounter some illuminating, even surprising, insights at times. However, it greatly helps to approach this work with a good grasp on what we know of the history and anthro-sociology of the Inka nowadays.

[brian bixby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent translation a dreadful history

The book was written to justify the Spanish destruction and looting of the Inca empire. As such it includes a large percentage of propaganda embedding a valuable kernel of the oral traditions of the Inca,who were unable to write their own version until Garsilaso.

[Mark Baller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done translation

It reads as if very much effort went into the translation is accurate and as close as you can get to English from the original letters very nicely presented.
Well worth the time to read.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second of three books. Apparently “Inca” is more of a title than a people group. And then of course Spain acting like Spain never experienced any dynastic intrigue before and then said that that’s why the Incas were godless.

[omar e lira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I like the book, it shows the history of the Inkas as told by their decendents , i strongly recommend it

[hh · Rating 4 out of 5]

super interesting colonial-era descriptions of the inca & their culture.

[Jean Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland, dry and reads like a very boring textbook. If you can get past the monotonous sounding voice of the narrator, this book is very helpful in gaining some insight of the Incan History.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book for not only its information on the Inca, but its' insights into the mentality of the Spanish. The reader MUST keep in mind that it is the victor doing the writing.

[Keith Teran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast narrative

Just an partial version from the Spaniards point of view. Not accurate language to describe the kings of one of the most important empires of history.