The beginning of the end. With the arrival from Spain in 1532 of Francisco Pizarro and his entourage of mercenaries or "conquistadors," the Inca empire was seriously threatened for the first time.

The Inca Empire stretched over 5,500 kilometres and was the largest state in the world in the 1400s. Around 40,000 Inca nobles ruled an empire of 12 million conquered people throughout the Andes ...

Inca gold llama (made between 1400 and 1550). Small statue from Peru. Some of you might just recognise the plaintive moan or humming sound of a llama.