[...] This book covers the history of civilizations that flourished and declined in the barren mountainous regions and snowy peaks of the Andes from 3000 BC to 1533 AD, when the Inca Empire came to an end. The first chapter chronologically describes the events and main aspects of the many civilizations - Nazca, Moche, Chimú, and others - that have recently begun revealing their secrets to the public. The second chapter discusses the various expressions of Peruvian art, particularly weaving and metallurgy, and describes aspects of religion, society, and intellectual life. The last part of the book serves as a guide to the most important archaeological sites, starting from the earliest adobe pyramids of the coastal ceremonial centers to the astonishing stone cities of the Inca and the tombs of the Moche, discovered by Walter Alva in Lambayeque. There is also a brief mention of the cultures of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, as well as their relationship with the culture of Peru.