Review of the Royal Printing Card

Author: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (Peru)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1996-07-01
Features: This book is a narrative and commentary on the lives and deeds of the successive kings of the Inca Empire and all aspects of their country by the Incas themselves. The material for this work comes from three sources: first, the memories of the Inca nobles of the maternal lineage of the author about the ancient kingdom; second, the observations and experiences of the author from his childhood in his homeland; and third, the records of Spanish writers who had previously written about Peru. The author organically combines these three elements to comprehensively record the history of the Inca Empire and various aspects of Inca society. At the same time, he expresses his own opinions and judgments on the truthfulness and authenticity of the content involved and the writings of Spanish authors, thus forming a complete "narrative and commentary." This book is a vast work, comprising nine volumes and divided into 262 chapters. Vertically, it traces the historical development of the Inca Empire in a coherent manner, from the origin of the first Inca king, Manco Capac, to the succession of twelve generations of kings, until the conquest by the Spanish. Horizontally, it records the economic, political, and cultural lives of the ancient Peruvians, including land systems, labor systems, administrative systems, laws and regulations, idol worship and religious beliefs, rituals and ceremonies, customs, myths and legends, education and language, artistic expressions, and various products. This book provides rich and original sources for all aspects of the development of Inca culture, and in its narration, it strives for detailed and specific descriptions, aiming for truth and credibility.