1.
High Civilizations of the Andes
(02:18)
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In 1532 the Inca Empire was destroyed by the Spanish. As their world crumbled around them, Inca nobles retreated into the mountains where they built Vilcabamba.
2.
An Accidental Archaeologist
(02:58)
For centuries Machu Picchu lay forgotten. It was eventually revealed to the world by Hiram Bingham. He was raised as a Puritan in Hawaii. Bingham attended Yale and later became a senator.
3.
High Society Life
(02:04)
Hiram Bingham adapted quickly to life at Yale, gladly leaving his puritanical childhood behind. He met and married the heir to the Tiffany Empire and struggled under the pressure from his new wealthy family.
4.
Letters from Hiram
(01:44)
Feeling hemmed in by the pressures of academia, in-laws, and domesticity Hiram soon started looking for an escape. He decided field research would be his ticket to adventure and left for South America in 1906.
5.
Hints to the Travelers
(01:44)
When Hiram Bingham reached Peru he came face to face with the Inca world. Entranced by the remains of this ancient civilization, he used a guide book to interpret and document his findings.
6.
Treasure Seeker's Dream
(01:28)
16th century chronicles recounted how a core group of Inca nobles and priests escaped Spanish conquerors. They fled to the jungles north of Cusco and built a final refuge at Vilcabamba. No explorer had found the site said to be filled with gold.
7.
Researching the Lost City of the Incas
(01:23)
When Hiram Bingham returned to the U.S. he threw himself into fundraising and research for a return trip to Peru. He was determined to be the first to find Vilcabamba.
8.
A Place Called Machu Picchu
(01:34)
Hiram Bingham left his family once again to explore Peru. In July of 1911 he left Cuzco to find Vilacabamba. A local man told him about old stone terraces on a mountain nearby.
9.
Discovering Machu Picchu
(01:58)
A young Indian boy led Hiram Bingham and his party to the ruins of Macchu Pichu. He documented the site with photographs. Not understanding the gravity of what he had found, he continued his search for Vilcabamba.
10.
Elusive Inca Ruin
(02:36)
After leaving Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham headed north in search of Vilcabamba. After weeks of travel he discovered he it was not where he thought it would be. He headed back to the U.S.
11.
A Royal Inca City
(01:53)
Back in the U.S. Hiram Bingham's felt his dream of finding Vicabamba was over. When he returned to Peru he realized the true glory of Machu Picchu. He was convinced that it was Vilcabamba.
12.
Recognition for Exploration in Peru
(01:04)
Hiram Bingham’s discovery of Machu Picchu brought him the fame he had always wanted but his career as an excavator wouldn't last much longer.
13.
Bingam's Return to the U.S.
(01:15)
Hiram Bingham returned to the Peru amidst a storm of controversy. He was accused of smuggling gold from the ancient city of Machu Picchu. He abandoned his excavation and joined the army to serve in World War II.
14.
Rise and Fall of Hiram Bingham
(01:30)
After a tour of duty during World War II, Hiram Bingham returned to the U.S. He was elected to the Senate but a bribery scandal ended his political career. He believed that Machu Picchu was Vilcambamba until his dying day.
15.
Killer of the Last Inca King
(01:13)
Intent on dispelling any ideas that Machu Picchu was not Vilacambamba, Hiram Bingham delved into Peru's history and the life of Francisco de Toledo.
16.
Introduction to Francisco de Toledo
(01:35)
Francisco de Toledo was born into Spanish nobility in 1515. At the time Spain was the most wealthy and powerful country in the world. The discovery of South America seemed to promise inexhaustible wealth.
17.
Reports from Beyond the Edge of the Known World
(01:56)
Francisco de Toledo became a royal page at the royal Spanish palace. He heard about Pizzaro's conquest of Peru and the astonishing amount of Inca gold. He joined the military and dedicated his life to Christ, Spain, and the law.
18.
Spain's Wild West
(01:42)
Spain was broke from financing decades of conquests and exploration in the Americas. All the wealth was in the hands of overlords who divided the land amongst themselves. The King decided Francisco de Toledo could bring money to Spain.
19.
Viceroy of Peru
(01:39)
In 1569 Francisco de Toledo set sail for Peru. The journey took nearly a year. Local encomendaros welcomed him but he disapproved of their greed. He threw himself into reforming the delinquent colony of Lima.
20.
Sympathy for the Inca
(01:58)
The Colony of Lima was feeding itself from Indian toil and ignorance. The native population simmered with hatred for the Spanish encomendaros. Francisco de Toledo learned of a rebellion at Vilcabamba.
21.
Government Based on Knowledge
(01:40)
Francisco de Toledo set out to research the remnants of the vast Inca empire. He interviewed both Spanish and Inca and asked questions about land, resources, and history.
22.
Justifying Spanish Conquest
(02:52)
Francisco de Toledo learned that European disease had killed almost one million Inca people since the arrival of the Spanish. He also learned that the Inca had only recently come into power in Peru.
23.
Just Social Order in Peru
(01:55)
Francisco de Toledo no longer had doubts about the legitimacy of the Spanish conquest in Peru. He planned to impose Spain's authority encomendaros and the church. Vilcabamba and the remaining power of the Inca kings would be destroyed.
24.
Túpac Amaru
(01:19)
Francisco de Toledo did not realize that the Inca king he planned to destroy was only a boy. The last Inca king was only a figurehead who was known to be gentle and not very bright.
25.
Last Inca King
(01:43)
On June 16, 1572 Spanish troops attacked Vilcabamba. Túpac Amaru was captured and condemned to death. The Spanish and Inca wanted Francisco de Toledo to stop the execution, but he did not.
26.
Execution of Túpac Amaru
(01:55)
The last Inca king was killed in the main square of Cuzco, Peru. Two different versions of the event portray very different pictures of his final moments before being killed at the hands of the Spanish.
27.
Message to Peru
(02:07)
After executing Túpac Amaru, Francisco de Toledo sent word to the King of Spain. The Inca mourned their lost king. He was later turned into a symbol of martyred innocence and native resistance to oppression.
28.
Fifth Viceroy of Peru
(02:34)
Francisco de Toledo became famous for executing Túpac Amaru. After successfully reforming the colony of Peru, Francisco de Toledo returned to Spain where he was turned away by the king he had served.