Laurence Blair

But I think we need to almost break out of the idea that every ancient culture should have those things, that actually there are ways that you can leave a legacy in a way that you can build a society that really flourishes without large stone buildings and without written writing.

But I think we need to almost break out of the idea that every ancient culture should have those things, that actually there are ways that you can leave a legacy in a way that you can build a society that really flourishes without large stone buildings and without written writing.

But I think we need to almost break out of the idea that every ancient culture should have those things, that actually there are ways that you can leave a legacy in a way that you can build a society that really flourishes without large stone buildings and without written writing.

It's almost kind of trying to flip the script a little bit and almost understand the real diversity of ancient human societies.

It's almost kind of trying to flip the script a little bit and almost understand the real diversity of ancient human societies.

It's almost kind of trying to flip the script a little bit and almost understand the real diversity of ancient human societies.

Really, these first people that are going through the Amazon, they have an agenda. We have this famous voyage by Francisco de Orellana and about 60 or so men who go to the Amazon in search of this land rich in cinnamon, which presumably the Andeans and Incas have told them about.

Really, these first people that are going through the Amazon, they have an agenda. We have this famous voyage by Francisco de Orellana and about 60 or so men who go to the Amazon in search of this land rich in cinnamon, which presumably the Andeans and Incas have told them about.

Really, these first people that are going through the Amazon, they have an agenda. We have this famous voyage by Francisco de Orellana and about 60 or so men who go to the Amazon in search of this land rich in cinnamon, which presumably the Andeans and Incas have told them about.

Even there, the pre-Columbian peoples of the Andes have this concept of the Amazon as being this quite dangerous, exciting, wealthy place. So we have this voyage in 1541, 1542, with this group of around 60 Spaniards, Africans, Andeans. And they have this incredible eight-month voyage down the Amazon.

Even there, the pre-Columbian peoples of the Andes have this concept of the Amazon as being this quite dangerous, exciting, wealthy place. So we have this voyage in 1541, 1542, with this group of around 60 Spaniards, Africans, Andeans. And they have this incredible eight-month voyage down the Amazon.

Even there, the pre-Columbian peoples of the Andes have this concept of the Amazon as being this quite dangerous, exciting, wealthy place. So we have this voyage in 1541, 1542, with this group of around 60 Spaniards, Africans, Andeans. And they have this incredible eight-month voyage down the Amazon.

And, you know, they meet some people who are friendly and really take them in and give them food and show them this incredible wealth in terms of ceramics and art. But in other places, they really meet very stiff opposition. And I think the locals, they twig quite early on that these guys do not mean us well.

And, you know, they meet some people who are friendly and really take them in and give them food and show them this incredible wealth in terms of ceramics and art. But in other places, they really meet very stiff opposition. And I think the locals, they twig quite early on that these guys do not mean us well.

And, you know, they meet some people who are friendly and really take them in and give them food and show them this incredible wealth in terms of ceramics and art. But in other places, they really meet very stiff opposition. And I think the locals, they twig quite early on that these guys do not mean us well.

And so they're fighting these running battles, and they're being chased away from towns, and they're starving, they're eating crabs, they're eating roots and herbs, which Gaspar de Carvajal, who's the chaplain who chronicles this trip, says made us turn mad and witless. perhaps they were chewing on an ayahuasca plant or something there. So it's this very strange journey.

And so they're fighting these running battles, and they're being chased away from towns, and they're starving, they're eating crabs, they're eating roots and herbs, which Gaspar de Carvajal, who's the chaplain who chronicles this trip, says made us turn mad and witless. perhaps they were chewing on an ayahuasca plant or something there. So it's this very strange journey.

And so they're fighting these running battles, and they're being chased away from towns, and they're starving, they're eating crabs, they're eating roots and herbs, which Gaspar de Carvajal, who's the chaplain who chronicles this trip, says made us turn mad and witless. perhaps they were chewing on an ayahuasca plant or something there. So it's this very strange journey.

And they come across these tall warrior women, which they call the Amazons. And they talk about these great cities, which are just kind of glimmering in land. And, you know, there's a A fantastic quote by this chaplain, Garvachal, who says, all those we've passed along this river are people of much intelligence and ingenuity.

And they come across these tall warrior women, which they call the Amazons. And they talk about these great cities, which are just kind of glimmering in land. And, you know, there's a A fantastic quote by this chaplain, Garvachal, who says, all those we've passed along this river are people of much intelligence and ingenuity.