Fortifications of the Incas: 1200–1531 (Fortress)

The Inca stronghold of Machu Picchu has an almost legendary status outside Peru as a symbol of the Incas. However, there is much more to the story, as related in this Osprey Fortress Series book. The Incas held a vast empire in Pacific South America on the strength of an army supported by an advanced road network and a series of fortresses. This is their story, in brief...The run-up to the actual fortresses takes a few pages, as the author provide a quick survey of the Incas and their military and civil structure. The heart of the book discusses construction techniques, the organizational means by which the Incas built their fortresses, and a sampling of the fortresses themselves. The text is backed by a terrific selection of near contemporary art and modern photographs and illustrations.This is a short book at only 64 pages, and can really only introduce a fascinating subject for which the relevant archeological interpretation seems to be ongoing. This reviewer was left a little unclear, for example, about how the Incas actually defended some of their more complicated fortresses; it might have helped if the modern illustrations had shown exactly how the terrences and interior walls in, for example, Sacsayhuaman actually figured in its defense. Otherwise highly recommended as an informative introduction to the topic.

I must admit, after reading Mr. Essery's review, I was hesitant to buy Fortifications of the Incas, but I am pleased that I finally did buy it. It obviously is a book meant for the general public rather than experts in the field. Considering the text, including illustrations, is only 60 pages, I find that it has a great deal of information. I also do not find the idea that the Incas might have provided defenses for their major cities all that far-fetched. Mr. Essery seems to believe some outmoded ideas that replaced what he referred to as older outdated theories. These were not peaceful noble savages any more than the sophisticated Europeans were a peaceful lot either. After all, most of the cities, even if religious or ceremonial centers, in the Old World had defenses at one time or another in their history and maintained them for many centuries including the Pope's medieval Rome and Avignon and other many other sites. Why wouldn't the Incas defend their most important sites, even those that were largely ceremonial? Discussing this with a couple of friends who teach history at a local university, I was told that most cities were often designed as multipurpose. I also loaned one professor the book and he thought it was a fine introduction to the subject. In response to some of Mr. Essery's comments, which I printed out for the professor, he said that he is more of a traditionalist and apparently not aware of the latest research. I was also informed that the Incas used the agricultural terraces as a "prepared battlefield" when a site was under attack as shown by their drawings in the book. The fact that the text deals with the main Inca sites instead of some obscure sites off the beaten path is a plus since these Osprey books usually note places that can be visited by reasonable means. In a book of this size, there obviously would not be room for secondary sites. In addition, if I went to Peru, I would want to see the main sites before I trekked to distant and difficult regions to find more obscure sites that only a professional might be interested in. At least Mr. Essery has point out that all the sites mentioned are easily accessible to tourists and I think that is a plus. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has a casual interest in the Incas and as a starting point for further studies.

This book is a great disappointment. Firstly it is very poorly researched. The Incas built a number of fortified sites throughout their empire that survive to this day - important examples include numerous fortresses in Ecuador, Incallata in Bolivia and small fortresses along side the Urubamba River in the 'Sacred Valley'. In writing a book of this nature it should be mandatory that the authors be familiar with these sites - yet it is obvious that they aren't to any great extent.Instead the authors seem to base most of their information around the main Incan tourist destinations of Peru - Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Sachsayhuaman, Machu Picchu. It seems pretty obvious they have holidayed in Peru and just stuck to the usual 'gringo trail' and have tried to write a book about Inca fortifications based largely around their holiday snaps of these sites. Agricultural terraces become 'defensive terraces' in absurd locations, like at the top of Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu is described as a 'fortress' and 'the last refuge of the Virgins of the Sun' - I thought that old theory had been put to rest years ago! Tambo-machay, the small fountain complex near Cuzco is suggested as having a primarily military function because of its 'defensive terraces'! They seem to see fortresses where there are none and haven't bothered to visit the actual sites where true Incan fortresses are to be found.Much of the short book is taken up with general information on the Inca - stuff thats been told many times before (and in better prose) and is unecessary in a book that is supposed to be specialising in fortifications. There are no illustrations of actual Incan weapons or armour. The reconstructions are useful but again not especially well researched. All the Incan buildings are shown without plaster or paint when we know that many structures had both when they were in use by the Inca. None of the reconstructions are of Incan fortresses (!!) but rather of ceremonial sites or royal estates - whats the point of that in a book on fortifications?In short I think this book is poorly written and researched and often misleading. A much better guide by a much more reliable author is John Hyslops 'Inka Settlement Planning' - he actually travelled to actual Incan fortifications (unlike these authors apparently) and so knows what he is talking about in his chapter on Incan military architecture. Amazingly it seems these authors arent even familiar with this definitive text (!) as it doesn't appear in their bibliography. Very disappointing all round.

I bought this book prior to visiting Peru. I read it cover to cover, as it is a quick read and I am so glad I did. It made visiting the sites much more rewarding, whether I toured the sites on my own or with a guide. I found a lot of the guides, which accompanied the locally booked tours, were not that well informed. They stated things as though they were facts and this book reveals there is a lot of mystery around the buildings and techniques used. I recommend it highly for anyone thinking of visiting Peru and wanted a concise guide on the Inca fortifications.

Excellent book & very fast delivery

Het boek heeft te veel aandacht voor de algemene geschiedenis in plaats van de fortificaties