A study of the first encounters between Spanish explorers and the indigenous tribes of the Americas, this work focuses on the life and times of Francisco Pizarro and his quest to locate the legendary wealth of a region the Spaniards called Peru. Chapters devoted to Inca history provide an overview of the vast empire that the conquistadors forged.

After a long career in the banking industry, Peter O. Koch now runs a small online business. The author of several books, his research interests include American Indian cultures and the New World expeditions of the Spaniards. He lives in Bradenton, Florida.

Peter O. Koch
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 219
Bibliographic Info: 10 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3053-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0915-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. A Fire That Burns Deep      5

2. In Search of Birú      25

3. A Second Chance      36

4. A Test of Will      44

5. Inca Heritage      55

6. The Empire of the Sun      74

7. Return of the Prodigal Son      94

8. The Third Voyage      100

9. Civil War      108

10. Pizarro’s March to Cajamarca      122

11. The Capture of the Inca      131

12. The Ransom of an Empire      140

13. Laying Claim to Cuzco      156

14. The Revolt of the Incas      169

15. The Return of Almagro      180

16. The War of the Spaniards      186

17. The End of an Era      194

Chapter Notes      203

Bibliography      207

Index      209