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What happened to the Incas? The advent of Peruvian culture is known to be around 10,000 BC. In distant times Peruvians were gatherers of plants and fruits as well as hunters until they acquired knowledge of agriculture. This is a land of mountains and jungles with violent weather as well as serene deserts, some without rain for over 2,000 years. The primitive man of Peru can be recognized in the jungles where tribes still live, preserving organizations and customs similar to those of their ancestors. With a wide range of myths and superstitions the people revere the forces of nature. The development of the Andean civilization took place along the whole length of the Andes, from Panama to the south of Chile. Although Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina had important manifestations of the Andean culture, it was in Peru that its splendor reached its highest degree of importance, equaling and even surpassing other cultures of the world. Thus the Peruvian people of antiquity were the creators of the pre-Inca and Inca civilizations. They were able to fight the forces of nature and create a culture of their own. Many exciting things were originated including underground funeral sanctuaries, medical skills and knowledge of mummification. Skull operations were performed to extract broken pieces of bone from the skull to repair injuries sustained in war. Anesthetics such as coca derivatives were used. The broken bones were removed and the opening was replaced with metallic pieces--usually gold plates --often with successful results. The knives, called tumis, served as both surgical and ceremonial instruments. The culture also produced masters in the construction of channels for irrigation and water storage as well as road building. It has been said that Pizarro had little trouble reaching the high country to conquer the Incas because he used their own roads. They were masters in ceramics and metallurgy creating fine work in twenty-karat gold. Dr. Sanchez book takes us through the various tribes that made up the civilization, through their development and the overpowering by Pizarro. Dr. Sanchez is convinced that this once great civilization can again at least rekindle some of the pride that they once had and relieve the suffering. Dr. Sanchez feels the pain and wants the world to know about these people and understand them. His book is an excellent beginning to help them start that process and for we who have much to be thankful for to perhaps hold out a compassionate hand to them.
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