Daily Life in the Inca Empire

(Hardback, 2nd edition)

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Description

Explore daily living inside the Inca empire, the largest empire in the western hemisphere before European colonization. The Incas' subjugation of all types of cultures in western South America led to a wide variety of experiences, from military leaders to ruling class to conquered peoples. Readers will uncover all aspects of Inca culture, including politics and social hierarchy, the life cycle, agriculture, architecture, women's roles, dress and ornamentation, food and drink, festivals, religious rituals, the calendar, and the unique Inca form of taxation. Utilizing the best of current research and excavation, the second edition includes new material throughout as well as a new chapter on Machu Picchu, and a day in the life section focusing on an Inca family and a servant family in Machu Picchu. Concluding chapters discuss Inca contributions to modern society and the dangers of present destruction of archaeological sites.

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This edition has been updated to incorporate new information from archaeological discoveries, astronomical orientations, and perspectives on the early Spanish chroniclers' accounts. A new chapter on Machu Picchu has been added, and discussion of primary versus secondary sources and chronology is new. Sidebars are also new, as are end-of-chapter questions and activities about the Incas and their relationship to today's society. Videos, CDs, and online sources have been added to the bibliography. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

MICHAEL A. MALPASS is Professor of Anthropology and the Dana Chair in the Social Sciences at Ithaca College. He has written and contributed to several books, journals, and edited works. His research interests include South American archeology and ethnohistory, the emergence of complex societies, and prehistoric agricultural systems.