The First New Chronicle and Good Government: On the History of the World and the Incas up to 1615

Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala wrote The First New Chronicle and Good Government, a book about pre-Columbian and early colonial Peru, which is now housed in the Royal Library, Copenhagen, and viewable online. Roland Hamilton provides the most complete and authoritative English translation of the first third of the manuscript, which covers the history of Peru from the earliest times and the lives of each of the Inca rulers and their wives.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 390 pages
\n Publication date: 20 April 2021
\n Publisher: University of Texas Press
\n

The First New Chronicle and Good Government is a captivating book written by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, a Peruvian Indian. This remarkable work delves into the pre-Columbian and early colonial history of Peru, encompassing pre-Inca times, various aspects of Inca culture, the Spanish conquest, and the subsequent colonial era up to around 1615, when the manuscript was completed. Currently residing in the Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark, and accessible online at www.kb.dk/permalink/2006/poma/info/en/frontpage.htm, the original manuscript consists of 1,189 pages accompanied by 398 full-page drawings, making it the most accurate graphic representation of Inca and colonial Peruvian material culture ever accomplished.

In order to present the most comprehensive and authoritative English translation of approximately the first third of The First New Chronicle and Good Government, Roland Hamilton has undertaken the task of working from the original manuscript and collaborating with fellow experts in Quechua and Spanish languages. The sections included in this volume (pages 1–369 of the manuscript) cover a comprehensive history of Peru, from its earliest times to the lives of each of the Inca rulers and their wives. Additionally, it provides a wealth of information about ordinances, age grades, the calendar, idols, sorcerers, burials, punishments, jails, songs, palaces, roads, storage houses, and government officials. To enhance the text, 146 detailed illustrations by Guaman Poma are included.

This book offers a profound insight into the rich cultural and historical heritage of Peru, shedding light on the complex interplay between indigenous societies, the Spanish conquest, and the development of colonial rule. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in exploring the fascinating history and culture of this region.

\n Weight: 590g\n
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 26 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781477323410\n \n