MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Literary The Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming

desertblues · 03-16-2013, 02:32 PM

I enjoy reading this historical narrative with its detailed descriptions. It is very well written; I feel myself drawn in this story. John Hemming must have had a though job reseaching all.
It is a big book though and I'm at page 110 of 551. I guess it will not finish it before the end of April.

The arrogance of the conquerors makes my toes curl and is hard to understand in these days.

Spoiler:

And, not to be too flippant, but I shudder at the thought of travelling in the Andes of that time.

Spoiler:

03-16-2013, 02:32 PM	#18
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	I enjoy reading this historical narrative with its detailed descriptions. It is very well written; I feel myself drawn in this story. John Hemming must have had a though job reseaching all. It is a big book though and I'm at page 110 of 551. I guess it will not finish it before the end of April. The arrogance of the conquerors makes my toes curl and is hard to understand in these days. Spoiler: He then delivered a declaration known as the Requirement, in which Spanish captains were supposed to inform native populations that the conquerors had been sent by the Emperor Charles in order to bring them the teaching of the true religion, and that all would be well if they submitted peacefully to the Emperor and his God.(87) And, not to be too flippant, but I shudder at the thought of travelling in the Andes of that time. Spoiler: With no draught animals or wheeled vehicles, the Incas built their roads only for walking men and trains of llamas. The roads climbed the slopes of the Andes with flights of steps or tunnels unsuitable for the horses.(101)