History of the Conquest of Peru (William H. Prescott, 1847)

Much enjoyed Prescott's write-up of the conquest of Mexico; had forgotten to follow up on this second key work until recent NOC-POC Peru trip led to discussions.  I'd prefer the Mexico book over the Peru book if pressed - but both are quite delightful.  The only downside on the Peru book is that so much of the story line is devoted to infighting among the Spanish conquerors - including several of the quite vigorous Pizarro brothers.

My favorite part of the book was the descriptions of the Inca empire prior to arrival of the Spaniards - if accurate, these folks were ridiculously well organized.  Roads, food system, religious, etc.  Yet they never figured out the wheel; very primitive writing.  As discussed in this book, and also here - Peru such a unique environment - so many micro-climates at such a low latitude - they could grow pretty much anything.

Pizarro benefited from lucky timing - arriving during a period of heightened imperial infighting - similar to Cortez in this respect.

But the courage, or madness, of the tiny group of adventurers is simply breathtaking.  Also borrowed from Cortez:  the bold abduction of the emperor.  The room full of gold.

How quickly the system fell apart once the emperor was taken; how quickly and permanently the changes wrought via the Spaniards reduced the country.

And how little long-term benefit to Spain - the ongoing myth that it was enriched - visible to Prescott - ". . . the wealth thus suddenly acquired, by diverting them from the slow but surer and more permanent sources of national prosperity, has in the end glided from their grasp, and left them among the poorest of the nations of Christendom."  Exploiting colonies wasn't a great strategy except for a handful of insiders, as discussed here.

Rampant inflation.

Charles V needing cash for wars - influx of precious metals helped in short run.

A younger Pizarro brother makes an incredible journey into the Amazon.

Definitely stranger than fiction.