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Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
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Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
María Rostworowski de Diez Canseco (1915-2016) is undoubtedly one of Peru's most renowned historians, widely recognized for her exceptional contributions to the understanding of pre-Columbian civilizations, particularly the Inca Empire. Throughout her career, she offered new perspectives on Peruvian history by exploring Andean cultures through an innovative lens. She is the author of numerous works that continue to be authoritative in the study of Andean history, particularly regarding the social, economic, and political relations of the pre-Hispanic era.
Born in Barranco, Lima, in 1915, María Rostworowski came from a multicultural family. Her father, Jan Jacek Rostworowski, was a Polish nobleman, and her mother, Rita Diez Canseco, belonged to an aristocratic Peruvian family. Thanks to this rich cultural heritage, María grew up in an environment where she learned to appreciate history and different cultures. She studied in Europe before returning to Peru to immerse herself in the history of her native country.
Despite an informal academic background in her early years, Rostworowski managed to integrate into the academic world thanks to her passion and hard work. Influenced by Peruvian anthropologist Julio C. Tello, she began to deeply explore pre-Columbian cultures. This marked the start of a prolific career that would change the way Andean history is perceived.
María Rostworowski stood out for her approach, which combined anthropology, history, and economics to better understand pre-Columbian societies. Unlike many of her contemporaries who focused primarily on the Inca Empire, she was interested in earlier and contemporary societies such as the Chimu, Paracas, and Nazca cultures. She also studied the relations between coastal societies and those of the Andean region.
Her research revealed fundamental aspects of Inca society, including the role of women in administration and economic exchanges, as well as the relationships between the Inca elite and the various subjugated ethnic groups. She also examined how the Incas integrated conquered cultures into their vast empire, shedding light on the administrative and power mechanisms of the Incas.
One of her most important works is "Historia del Tahuantinsuyu" (History of the Tahuantinsuyu), published in 1988. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the complexity of the Inca Empire, its political, social, and economic structures. It is based on meticulous research of colonial documents and chronicles by Spanish authors, as well as a critical analysis of sources to accurately reconstruct Inca history.
Rostworowski is also the author of "Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui", a comprehensive biography of the famous Inca emperor, highlighting his role in the empire's expansion and consolidation of power. This book showcases Rostworowski’s ability to combine disparate historical sources and produce a cohesive vision of Inca history.
Another of her major works is "Estructuras andinas del poder: Ideología religiosa y política", where she explores the power structures in The Andes, emphasizing the central role of religion in Inca political organization. In this work, she delves into topics such as ancestor worship, the role of huacas (sacred places), and how these elements shaped Andean society.
María Rostworowski was one of the first historians to investigate the role of women in Inca society. In a world dominated by male-centered narratives, she brought to light the role of elite women, particularly the acllas (chosen women), who played a crucial role in the empire’s religious and political administration. She also studied ordinary women, exploring their role in economic production and the transmission of cultural traditions.
In addition to her research, María Rostworowski played a key role in promoting historical research in Peru. She worked for many years at the Peruvian Institute of Studies (IEP) and collaborated with numerous researchers, helping to train a new generation of historians specializing in Andean studies.
Her impact extends beyond the academic world. Her works have been translated into several languages and are studied in universities around the world. María Rostworowski passed away in 2016 at the age of 100, leaving behind an intellectual legacy that continues to influence Andean studies.
María Rostworowski not only contributed to a better understanding of Inca history, but she also transformed how we approach the history of pre-Columbian peoples in general. Her multidisciplinary approach, her commitment to historical accuracy, and her dedication to preserving the memory of indigenous peoples make her one of the greatest historians in Latin America. Her work remains a vital resource for anyone seeking to explore the fascinating history of Andean civilizations.