In 1532, when Pizarro conquered Peru, the Inca realm was one of the largest empires on earth, rivalling that of Ming China or the Ottoman Turks. This glittering culture however only obscured the rich and diverse civilizations that had preceded it: Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Tiwanaku, Huari and Chimu. Intense research into this heritage has been carried out during the last generation and this work presents a synthesis of these new findings. The narrative takes us from the first settlement over 10,000 yars ago to the Spanish conquest. Drawing on work of archaelogists, anthropologists and historians, he shows that Andean prehistory can be understood only in terms of human adaptations to extraordinary environmental extremes. Moche and Chimu civilizations grew up along the narrow coastal desert, susceptible to periodic cataclysmic flooding or drought. Tiwanaku and Huari flourished in the harsh highlands. Not until the 15th century were these worlds united by the Incas in a single empire. It also shows that for thousands of years there was constant interchange between the coast and uplands. Illustrations display the artistic sophistication and technological expertise of these ancient peoples.