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Lost City Of The Incas

Hiram Bingham describes the Peruvian expedition to the Inca capitals of Vitcos and Vilcapampa, lost for three centuries under the shadow of Machu Picchu mountain. Here is all that is known about Machu Picchu, its origin, how it came to be lost, and how it was finally discovered. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Paperback

Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co (June 1963)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0689700148

ISBN-13: 978-0689700149

Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.9 x 0.7 inches

Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces

Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #411,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #36 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations > Incan #59 in Books > History > Americas > South America > Peru #1277 in Books > History > Americas > Native American

This book tells the gripping story of the discovery of Machu Piccu. Although Bingham is an academic archaeologist he appears to be belong to the Indiana Jones school. As a travel book it is a gem - Bingham travels through uncharted teritory in the outback of Peru at teh beginning of the century. He risks his life climbing the steep hillsides to Machu Piccu after getting a tip from a local farmer. But the book is also full of detail on the finds he made at the site. It is an insight into the ways of the Inca, and the archaeologist. Although it can be a bit dry in places - the lists of finds at Machu Piccu - Bingham makes up for this with his absorbing adventure story in the earlier chapters. END

Bingham's book was written back in the 1940s. This details his adventures in finding the city of Machi Picchu. The city was never really lost, the Indians knew about it all along. Bingham just brought it to the world's attention. Some of Bingham's theories about the Incas have later been proven false. So if you want the definitive explanation of why Machu Picchu exists, this is not the book. Generally this is a good adventure book and details the last years of the Inca Empire before Francisco Pizarro destroyed it. This is located in the first part of the book, which is interesting. The second half of the book details his theories, some of which have been proven false. For those of you planning on visiting Peru and Machu Picchu, read this book.

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.Bingham wrote THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS with verve nearly 30 years after his achievement. To its credit, it is not riddled with hindsight but offers an immediacy of perspective. He begins with a very lucid, unbiased reading of the end of the Incan empire by the Europeans who leveled it. Bingham then recounts his own adventures in the discovery and subsequent archeological efforts, after which he provides a gloss on Incan culture as understood in those first digs. Bingham's narrative never bogs, even among the dryer material. The book stirs with wonder. Bingham may have been an ambitious man but his ambitions in this context are all about furthering knowledge for all.The only reason to nick a star in the rating: datedness. Thanks to Bingham's inspiration, Incan studies perpetuate and some of his conclusions are no longer current. Though in one section he refers to native Indians as "savages," the book is largely and refreshingly free of elitism. He struck a deal with Peru to remove artifacts for study at Yale, with the stipulation that Peru could have them back when it wanted them. That's a drama that's unfolding now.

This book was exactly as advertised and I'm very pleased with its condition. It came in a very timely manner so that I could send it on to my Mother for her birthday. The free shipping was a real plus given today's rates. I will definitely go to and this vendor in the future. I am always looking for out-of-print books.

I ordered this book a month ago and I have yet to hear anything about it. I was hoping to read it before I traveled to Peru, but that didn't happen. Hope it arrives eventually!

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