Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford cover image

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Blood and Gold (with Dan Snow)

Apr 23, 2024
Join historian Dan Snow, a celebrated presenter known for his engaging historical documentaries, as he delves into the conquest of the Inca Empire by Spanish conquistadors. Discover the bloody quest for gold that led to the empire's downfall and hear about the dramatic Battle of Crécy, revealing surprising tactics and cultural clashes. Dan highlights how European diseases devastated indigenous populations and examines the Inca's courage in the face of tragedy, drawing contemporary parallels that resonate today.
40:24

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Inca's downfall due to inability to adapt to European warfare tactics.
  • Spanish exploitation of Inca's desire for peace through treachery and deceit.

Deep dives

The Cravins for Aztec Gold

The Spanish colonization sets out on a quest for treasure in Peru, targeting the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro, a man with humble beginnings, leads a group of adventurers to Peru in search of the rumored city of gold. The Inca Emperor, Atahualpa, falls victim to Pizarro's audacious tactics, ultimately captured and killed. The Inca fail to grasp the European culture of warfare, leading to their downfall despite a massive army.

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