Famous Peruvians I: MarÃa Rostworowski: Renowned Historian of Pre-Hispanic Peru
Origins and Education
MarÃa Rostworowski Tovar de Diez Canseco was born on August 8, 1915, in Lima, Peru. The daughter of a Polish father and a Peruvian mother, she received a bilingual and cosmopolitan education from an early age. She studied in England, Switzerland, and France, and later pursued History at the National University of San Marcos, where she was taught by prominent scholars such as Raúl Porras Barrenechea and Luis E. Valcárcel.
Focus and Historical Research
Rostworowski specialized in the history of pre-Hispanic Peru, with a particular focus on Andean cultures prior to the Incas and the organization of the Inca Empire (Tahuantinsuyo). Using a multidisciplinary approach that combined history, anthropology, and ethnology, she offered new interpretations of the social, economic, and political structures of Andean civilizations. One of her most influential works is "Pachacútec Inca Yupanqui", in which she analyzes the role of the great reformer of the Inca Empire.
Work and Academic Legacy
Throughout her career, she published over twenty books, including the widely read "History of the Tahuantinsuyo", which became essential for studying Andean cultures. She was a member of the Institute of Peruvian Studies and served as president of the National Academy of History. Her work is recognized for highlighting marginalized groups in official history, especially women, peasants, and Indigenous peoples.
Recognition and Cultural Legacy
MarÃa Rostworowski passed away on March 6, 2016, at the age of 100. She received numerous national and international awards for her contributions to Peruvian historiography. Her legacy remains strong in education and academic research, and she is considered one of the most important Peruvian intellectuals of the 20th century. Her work helped to revalue the Andean past and shed light on the complexity of pre-Columbian societies.
