The Last Days of the Incas

Kim MacQuarrie talked about his book, The Last Days of the Incas, in which he recounted the Spanish conquest of the Inca empire beginning with the landing of conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his army of 167 men in 1532. His intention was to answer the question, “How did a mere 167 Spaniards conquer an empire of 10 million people?” The Spanish were outnumbered 200 to 1 yet were able to seize the Inca capital, Cuzco and dispose of the Inca ruler within a year of arrival. The Incas were forced into the Amazon, and a 36-year guerrilla war with the Spanish ensued. The author described the last days of the Inca empire and examined the excavation of Inca artifacts. After his presentation he responded to audience members' questions.

Mr. MacQuarrie is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and has written three illustrated books about Peru including Manu: Peru’s Amazonian Eden. close