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Primary sourceBook1921 (translation of a 16th-century account)

Relation of the Discovery and Conquest of the Kingdoms of Peru

Pedro Pizarro · 1921 (translation of a 16th-century account)

Eyewitness account by Pedro Pizarro, cousin of Francisco Pizarro, describing the conquest of the Inca Empire.

Written by Francisco Pizarro's cousin, an eyewitness participant in his conquest of Peru.

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Relation of the Discovery and Conquest of the Kingdoms of PeruPDF · 296 pages
Pedro Pizarro, Relation of the Discovery and Conquest of the Kingdoms of Peru, trans. Philip Ainsworth Means, 1921.

About this source

What it is

This is an English translation, published in 1921, of a firsthand account written by Pedro Pizarro, a conqueror and settler of Peru and cousin of Francisco Pizarro. The translation was made and annotated by Philip Ainsworth Means for the Cortes Society.

Why it matters

Pedro Pizarro took part in the conquest of the Inca Empire alongside his famous relative. His account describes the government, treasures, and events of the conquest, giving a participant's view of the campaign that Francisco Pizarro led.

Look closer

  • Why might a relative's account be useful, but also one-sided?
  • What kinds of details does an eyewitness include that a later historian might miss?
  • How does the title describe the treasures and government of the conquered kingdoms?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Francisco Pizarro on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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