In 1525, the Incan empire was at its zenith, and it dominated much of the Andean area extending from Ecuador to Northern Chile. The layout of the majority of Peruvian towns and settlements, including the capital Cuzco, evolved form the ubiquitous fortified family compound called the cancha. These fortifications contributed to an important feature of Incan infrastructure: an extensive system of roads that allowed the quick transfer of information, merchandise, and armed forces from one point of the empire to the other. This book explores the development and practice of Incan fortifications and examines how they came to be overrun by Pizarro's conquistadores.