Two Different Sources, Two Different Perus

James Dancho

With Peruvian elections over one cannot help but wonder how the country of Peru came to be what we see today. The uninitiated may expect accounts of history to be consistent, but this is rarely the case even among canonical works. Two widely accepted sources, John Hemming’s book “The Conquest of the Inca” and Titu Cusi Yapanqui’s account “An Inca Account of the Conquest of Peru,” give very different readings ofPeruvian history. Hemmings, a leading scholar in Inca culture, sees the formation of the Kingdom of Peru quite differently from Cusi’s, son of an Inca ruler, and himself an eventual Inca ruler. Looking at the reasoning for Atahualpa’s capture, the capture/ treatment of Manco, and the perception of the Spaniards one is able to see distinct differences in both sources.

            Hemming’s book is a very detailed account of the conquest with much focus upon the civil war that consumed the country during the Spaniard’s first arrival. Hemming’s stance is skeptical of the Inca showing him in a more human light as opposed to the Cusi’s more heroic account. In regards to the capture of Atahualpa, Hemmings explained: “The Inca admitted the fate he had planned for the strangers. ‘He answered half smiling…he intended to capture the Governor but the reverse had happened.’” (Hemming 46) Using this example one can see that a reader would assume the Inca to be conniving but with Cusi’s account one is not so quick to attack the Inca. Cusi explains that Atahualpa took measures to understand these foreigners on his land. Spaniards came and took as they pleased bringing disease and having no respect for Inca customs. Pizarro and Atahualpa’s first encounter was not courtly with Atahualpa claiming, “Well, you do not have any regard for my gesture, and I do not have any regard for yours.” (Cusi 15) It seems one cannot be so quick to judge.

            Though Cusi’s account is a primary source it leaves a strong bias for the Incan people only recounting the evils done upon them by the Spaniards. Manco Inca, Cusi’s father, stated: “Do you think that it is possible that I am a dog or sheep? So, if I am not a dog nor any of these things I mentioned, what is your reasoning for treating me in this manner?” (Cusi 63) Strong tensions lie within Cusi’s account while Hemming’s work is more detached in his effort to understand the Spaniards while reasoning for their actions. Using theories to justify actions, Hemmings claimed: “A third theory was that Manco had determined to rebel and sent Paullu with instructions to annihilate Almagro’s army at the appropriate moment.” (Hemming 172)

            Even as early as 1532 both Spaniards and Inca alike carried distorted views of one another. Hemming’s book shows the Inca perceiving the Spaniards as gods but after some investigation coming to the conclusion that they were other worldly people but mortal and with that came the realization that they might of dominate these foreign invaders. Cusi explained: “The Tallanas said that they had seen some people arrive in their land who dressed very differently from our people; these new people seemed to be viracochas.”(Cusi 9)  On the other hand the Spaniards associated the Inca as a group of people similar to the Aztec since that was their only prior experience. Remembering those experiences helped the Spaniard’s take advantage of the Inca. Hemmings explains Atahualpa’s perception of the Spaniards: “Atahualpa was surprised to see no Spaniards. He later admitted he thought they must have hidden from fear at the sight of his magnificent army. “(Hemming 41)) Atahualpa’s capture happened regardless but the perceptions this great leader had upon first meeting the Spaniards altered history in favor of the conquistador.  

            Two different sources form the same period, different accounts, but additive when encountered together. The different perspectives challenge the reader to form her own synthesis. Understanding and reconciling these very different sources helps us to understand how Peru came to be. I highly recommended reading both sources, Hemming’s lengthy analysis, as well as  Cusi’s recounting. Both narratives deserve our attention.

Latitude 9N Welcomes It's Newest Contributor: James Dancho

James will be contributing context, analysis on Latin American history, and book reviews. While James has a broad expertise in Latin America his Mexico and Peru are close to his heart.

James R. Dancho

         James Dancho, was born July, 1990 in Connecticut. Growing up in Monroe, Connecticut James lived an average middle class life. James attended Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut playing football, basketball, and pursued his interest in history. Extensively reading historical material and analyzing historical sources while enjoying the basic idea of history being a story sparked the passion to learn, research, and retell historical events.

            By graduation no longer was James interested in just teaching history but became a part of it. September 2008 brought a new recruit to the United States Marine Corps. Serving as a Motor Transport operator James was able to travel throughout the United States engulfing himself in different cultures and perspectives. James was stationed for most of his duty in Miramar California where an interest in Spanish culture began. James, also, served one tour in Afghanistan where he realized his calling to serve another purpose to be that of a College professor. Enrolling into college night courses on base, offered by Central Texas College, James completed most of his general studies.

            By September 2012 James completed his service and begun his search for a university to attend. University of Missouri-St. Louis answered that call. James’s interest in Latin America history started here where James took all available courses offered in Latin America history. May 2016 James graduated Cum Laude receiving his B.A. in history.

            James is currently applying for grad school continuing in history but with an emphasis in Atlantic World history. Covering topics such as Native Americans, colonialism, and independence of American nations.

            

The Peru Show: Can The New Government Govern?

Hector Arocha:

The recent Peruvian elections delivered an interesting show for Peru watchers. Using the time honored political tactic of raising the spector of a troubled past and an uncertain future to scare voters and argue that change is the safe choice Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski leveraged a tightly controlled party to eke out a marginal victory. It’s hard to miss that the PPK party shares Mr Kuczynski’s initials, if not his name.

For those not familiar with the rise of Kaczynski, Peru’s new president was born and raised in Lima Peru some 78 years ago. Educated in Philosophy, Economics, and Politics at Oxford. He also holds a Masters in Economics from Princeton. Kuczynski is clearly no intellectual slacker. He has held key positions in past Peruvian administrations as well as serving as the President of the Central Bank of Peru, the Secretary of Energy and Mining Industries, and the Secretary of Finances and Economics. 

Given such muscular technocratic credentials Kuczynski was a heavy weight contender. In the far corner we had the young Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the famous, some might say infamous, ill fated Alberto Fujimori, President of Peru from July 1998 until his flight from the country in November of 2000. Keiko was educated in Business Administration at Boston University and Columbia University collecting two MBAs. Her government experience includes the post of First Lady following her fathers turbulent divorce. The contestants’ similarities and differences added a level of definition to a close election.

Fujimori and Kuczynski are politically distinct to the point of likely irreconcilability. Political contests are not always a contest of friends, but they are nearly always a contest of interests. With new interests ascendant everything could change.

The new administration's challenge will be less one of economics, Peru has been enjoying steady growth for the last decade, than that of political reconciliation. Whether or not Kuczynski can build cross spectrum alliances and power sharing agreements will determine whether Peru’s intense politics are available to forward movement, or stuck in an ungovernable mire.

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Un resultado interesante de las elecciones Peruanas

Usando la vieja estrategia del miedo,ya sea del pasado un un possible futuro, el Sr Pedro Pablo Kuczynski y su partido politico el PPK Peruanos por el Cambio, se avisora como el ganador de esta disputada contienda.

Per quien es Kuczynski? Limeño de 78 años de edad, estudiante de Filosofia, Economia y Politica en Oxford, Inglaterra. Tambien realize un Post-grado en Economia en Princeton lo cual le califica como persona educada. Ocupo carteras ministeriales como Gerente general del Banco Central del Peru, Ministo de Energia y Minas, y tambien Ministro de Economia y Finanzas.

Ducho en material economica, gubernamental y obviamente, politica fue un serio contendiente.

En la otra acera tenemos a la joven Keiko Fujimori, licenciada en Administracion de Empresas por la Universidad de Boston con una maestria en la Universidad de Columbia en los Estados Unidos. Curiosamente, Keiko fue nombrada primera dama del Peru por su famoso padre, Alberto Fujimori, el cual ocupa por seis años.

Dos personas similares y diferentes que definieron los resultados de las presentes elecciones. 

Un Peru dividido en dos corrientes de pensamiento, las cuales se perciben irreconciliables en principio. Por supuesto, como en politica no existen amistades, existen intereses, todo pude cambiar. 

Sin embargo, se vislumbra ya un gobrierno dificil en lo politico, afortunadamente, no en lo economico, en donde Peru todavia mantiene una boanza regular que incluye crecimento economico.

El que viene, sera un periodo de intensas negociaciones politicas para ambos centros de poder y asi evitar la ingobernabilidad que desde ya se presenta como el mayor de los peligors que esta nacion suramericana enfrentara en los meses por venir.

If The Chinese Economy Drifts, Do Latin American Economies Follow?

The Chinese economy is both opaque and massive. The World Bank currently has it ranked as the world's largest economy, GDP $18,017,073 in millions, ahead of the US at GDP $17,419,000 in millions and third place India at GDP $7,384,099 also in millions. You can find the data here.Chinese economic numbers are notoriously controversial, no fault of the World Bank. However the sheer size of the Chinese economy combined with its famous opacity is cause for a lot of nervousness, particularly for countries that have benefited from Chinese imports over past decades. Several Latin American economies can count themselves among the beneficiaries of Chinese commodity consumption.

This is, of course, a very large topic, the sort of flame that attracts me like a moth. I've decided to dip my toe in the water with a few exploratory charts. For starters I took a look at the correlation between Chinese and Chilean GDP to get a sense of how closely Chile tracks China. I charted GDP data from 2004 to 2014. The data is also from the World Bank and you can find it here.

Chile looks to be following China fairly closely here. This is not a big surprise. Chile's top export for 2014 was copper in various forms. China has been a big enough importer of copper to effect prices and world demand.

I also decided to take a look at Peru, another strong exporter of copper and an oil exporter as well.

Peru looks to be even more closely linked to China. So what to take away from all this?

Not much. Two charts without context don't tell us much, and correlations are problematic to interpret. I do think the China/Latin America link is an interesting story. One worth following. Partly as a way of understanding the past, and partly as a way of measuring whether the world is changing. The Chinese economy is evolving quickly behind a thick layer of fog. The impact of China on Latin America of 5 years ago is unlikely to be the same as that 5 years into the future.

Mexico and Hurricanes. Mexico get's Patricia right.

To my knowledge the current death toll from hurricane Patricia is less than 10 people. That is a remarkable achievement considering that Patricia had wind speeds of over 165 mph when it hit land. Yes Mexico had some luck working for it. Patricia hit an area of low population density and it was too short lived to develop much of a storm surge. Even so, Mexico got this right when getting it right means there are people alive today that might not have been if the government had not acted quickly to evacuate its citizens and to provide assistance.

With Patricia Mexico shows its strength. But in fact, Mexico has many strengths. Congratulations Mexico. We morn those who are lost, but we celebrate those who lived.

On a slightly different note, VOX news is becoming an important English language source for Latin American news. I applaud them in this era of fascination with Asia and Europe for recognizing how import our own hemisphere is, both north and south. Their excellent analysis of Mexico's response to Patricia is here.

Yakima Washington, Pueblo de Frontera/Border Town

Hector recently paid a visit to Yakima Washington and wrote down some of his thoughts.

Hector Arocha October 14, 2015

Yakima is situated amongst some of the world’s most productive farmland, laden with abundant crops and a blossoming wine industry. The Hispanic population is also blossoming and Mexican nationals are a clear majority.

Yes, Yakima hits you with the beauty of its dry inland landscape. And with the crisp, clear divide between mostly Mexican latinos and everybody else.

As overwhelming as the Hispanic population is, the perception is of an "agreed" calm or co-existence as latinos and anglos live separate lives with bodegas and grocery stores and separate restaurants (say Denny's vs Mexican restaurants). 

In the few days I had to spend around this city, and perhaps it was the ignorance of an outsider, I did not perceive any real connection, any direct participation between anglos and latinos.

Yes, the two groups came together in commerce. However, even in the schools, the anglos preferred private schools, out of reach of most latinos who were left behind in inadequate public schools. Yakima is a city that contains significant contrast, a people divided in the middle of an agrarian powerhouse. A northern border town.

Esperemos que evolucione positivamente. 

Ubicada en un hermoso paisaje, con una industria agrícola y vitivinícola en pleno desarrollo.

Igualmente, con una poblacion Hispana en apogeo, en donde los oriundos de Mexico representan una mayoría absoluta.

Si, Yakima te impresiona con una geografía árida en donde se pervie una separazione significativa entre Mexicanos y todos los demás.

Ask como avasallante es la población Hispana, la percepción de la realidad urbana es de una "calma relativa por acuerdo" ya que tanto los Mexicanos como 

los no Mexicanos (mainstream) tiene sus propias tiendas (por ejemplo, Denny's vs Mi Ranchito Mexican Food) 

En los pocos días en esta ciudad, y muy probablemente por ignorancia de su realidad urbana diaria, no se percibe una participación o relación directa de los dos grupos etnicos mayoritarios.

Ciertamente, se pude percibir la reciprocidad en actividades comerciales, sin embargo al preguntar sobre el sistema educativo los comentarios no fueron positivos respecto a escuelas publicas vs privadas.

Yakima es una ciudad de contrastes significativos, en su paisajes naturales y en su demografía actual.

Esperemos que evolucione positivamente.