Following the publication of his latest book, Silver and blood. The conquest of the Inca Empire and the civil wars of Peru and his recent collaboration in the Desperta Ferro Historia Moderna #37:The Conquest of Peru , we take the opportunity to conduct this interview with Antonio Espino López (Córdoba, 1966), professor of Modern History at the UAB, to tell us about his particular vision of the conquest of Peru from the point of view of military history
Where does the impulse to write Silver and blood come from? ? What novelties does it provide with respect to what has been previously published on the subject?
What distinguishes the conquests of Peru and Chile, and the civil wars between conquerors, from the European wars of the same period?
Steel swords and arquebuses or native auxiliaries; technology or politics? What was the key to the triumph of Pizarro and his host over the Incas?
Soldiers or adventurers, generals or warlords? What was the true character of the men who participated in the conquest of Peru and in the civil wars, and what drove them?
In this cast of characters, and departing from the objectivity that should characterize historical research, is there one that arouses special sympathy or antipathy in you?
What impression did the civil wars in Peru give? Do they constitute, in the eyes of the chroniclers of the time, wars in which honor and prestige can be won?
What novelties did the civil wars in Peru introduce in tactical terms? Were these notions exported to Europe?
Famine, dogs, mutilations… Were the wars in America more brutal than in Europe or North Africa at the time?
We appreciate his attention and wish him a happy new year, and the best of luck in all his projects. And we remind our readers that until January 7th they can acquire Silver and blood. The conquest of the Inca Empire and the civil wars of Peru with free shipping costs by courier service 48-72 hours).