The
Tiwanaku: Portrait of an Andean Civilization :
This book is an exploration of 3000 years of Tiwanakan history, from the first
appearance of their settlement around the shores of Lake Titicaca to their contemporary
descendants in the Andes. The author draws on archaeological evidence throughout
the region, supplementing this with what can be drawn from later recorded myths
and legends.
He presents both a narration of Tiwanakan history and an account
of the development of their culture, political economy, and insofar as possible,
their daily lives. He also describes the development of Tiwanakan architecture
and technology, particularly the sophisticated hydraulic engineering used in raised
field agriculture...
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Valley of the Spirits: A Journey Into the Lost Realm of the Aymara:
A millennium before the Incas built their empire, the city of Tiahuanaco sat at
the center of a great empire of its own. Located on Lake Titicaca, the world's
highest at 13,000 feet, in what is now Bolivia, at the very limits of agriculture,
the people of Tiahuanaco developed an ingenious system of cultivation based on
raised planting beds alternating with trenches that served as irrigation ditches.
From A.D. 400 to 800, the temples of Tiahuanaco glittered with gold and the empire
supported as many as 250,000 people. Kolata, who has spent more than 17 years
excavating the empire's ruins, weaves together the story of Tiahuanaco and the
region's modern inhabitants, the Aymara.
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Ancient Titicaca: The Evolution of Complex Society in Southern
Peru and Northern Bolivia :
One of the richest and most complex civilizations in ancient America evolved around
Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and northern Bolivia. This book is the first comprehensive
synthesis of four thousand years of prehistory for the entire Titicaca region.
It is a fascinating story of the transition from hunting and gathering to early
agriculture, to the formation of the Tiwanaku and Pucara civilizations, and to
the double conquest of the region, first by the powerful neighboring Inca in the
fifteenth century and a century later by the Spanish Crown.
Based on more
than fifteen years of field research in Peru and Bolivia, Charles Stanish's book
brings together a wide range of ethnographic, historical, and archaeological data,
including material that has not yet been published... This book demonstrates that
the ancestors of the Aymara people of the Titicaca Basin rivaled the Incas in
wealth, sophistication, and cultural genius. The provocative data and interpretations
of this book will also make us think anew about the rise and fall of other civilizations
throughout history. 34 b/w photographs, 12 line illustrations, 37 maps, 19 tables.
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From Viracocha to the Virgin of Copacabana: Representation of
the Sacred at Lake Titicaca :
Surrounded by the peaks of the Andean cordillera, the deep blue waters of Lake
Titicaca have long provided refreshment and nourishment to the people who live
along its shores. From prehistoric times, the Andean peoples have held Titicaca
to be a sacred place, the source from which all life originated and the site where
the divine manifests its presence. In this interdisciplinary study, Verónica
Salles-Reese explores how Andean myths of cosmic and ethnic origins centered on
Lake Titicaca evolved from pre-Inca times to the enthronement of the Virgin of
Copacabana in 1583.
She begins by describing the myths of the Kolla (pre-Inca)
people and shows how their Inca conquerors attempted to establish legitimacy by
reconciling their myths of cosmic and ethnic origin with the Kolla myths. She
also shows how a similar pattern occurred when the Inca were conquered in turn
by the Spanish. This research explains why Lake Titicaca continues to occupy a
central place in Andean thought despite the major cultural disruptions that have
characterized the region's history. This book will be a touchstone in the field
of Colonial literature and an important reference for Andean religious and intellectual
history.
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Bolivia (Country Guide) :
Camp overnight on isolated Isla Pariti to watch the sun rise over Lake Titicaca,
p. 123.
- Creep through the nighttime jungle to spot jaguars, snakes and
colorful tree frogs, p. 338.
- Bite, slurp and scoop our the inside of a
savory saltena, p. 89.
- Walk in the footsteps of the ancients on cliff-hugging
pre-Inca roads, p. 138.
- Shield your eyes from the blinding white expanse
of the world's largest salt flat, p. 191...
- Dedicated Outdoors chapter
and frank advice on traveling sustainably.
- Insightful coverage of Bolivia's
vibrant indigenous cultures...
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Bolivia in Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture
:
This
land of colorful cultures and stunning landscapes offers the curious visitor and
student an unending stream of extraordinary things. From a fantastic archeological
record to llama fetuses in the Witch s Market, from the coca story to the hemisphere
s first indigenous president, the history and cultures of Bolivia is an eye-opening
experience.
But behind its breathtaking scenery and welcoming culture lies
a more complex country facing serious political instability and environmental
threat. Bolivia in Focus helps the traveler who aspires to be well-informed to
understand the wider picture and build up an overall knowledge of the country.
It also gives the reader a thought-provoking introduction to the sources of tension
in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, and the people s struggle for
social justice that has been missing since the arrival of colonialism five hundred
years ago.
Bolivia in Focus is an authoritative and up-to-date guide to
this captivating country. It explores the land and people, history, economy, politics,
society, culture and religion, and includes the author s tips on must-see landmarks
and historical sites and how to get the most out of a brief visit.
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