When Francisco Pizarro landed in Peru in 1532 he found a vast empire seemingly overflowing with gold and silver. Ruled by monarchs claiming direct descent from the sun itself, its inhabitants built roads, bridges and terraced fields in the precipitous Andes, and made brilliant textiles and dazzling jewelry – all without possessing writing or the wheel. But within a few short months the Inca empire had been conquered and its subjects killed or enslaved.

With over 100 colour illustrations, The Incas tells the story of this magnificent civilization, from its earliest origins to its bloody demise.