Richly illustrated, this book describes the grandeur and richness of the numerous civilisations predating the Incas, including the Paracas, Nazca, Recuay, Sicán-Lambayeque, Moche-Sipán, and Chimú cultures, as well as the great Inca civilization. The first section is dedicated to illustrating important sites and landscapes representative of the three major ecological levels of Peru. The text offers a general view and a historical perspective of the pre-Columbian cultures of Peru. Luis Guillermo Lumbreras examines the historical and archaeological context while Fernando de Szyslo presents the viewpoint of a contemporary Peruvian artist. Informative text written by Peruvian specialists in the field introduce each chapter dedicated to each of the pre-Columbian cultures. The ancient cultures in question are illustrated through their varied artistic achievements through 200 stunning objects, including works of gold, ceramics and textiles tht testify to the highly developed artistic techniques of these historic civilizations.