“The Aztec and Inca weren’t empires in the conventional sense but more a confederation of regional groups with lots of killing and infighting between groups, which didn’t make them a united force against the Spaniards.”

Prof Fisher has also helped dispel a historical myth within Peru of an indigenous uprising in 1783.

The story within Peru centres around Tupac Amaru II who claimed he was the descendant of the Inca emperor executed in the 1570s.

“There is a lot of doubt whether this rebellion could have sparked a revolt and led to independence.

“Peru has always been resentful that the heroes of independence were from elsewhere.

“Tupac Armaru was the first of the ‘heroes’ who wanted emancipation for the people, but I think this is a lot of nonsense and his aims were ambiguous.

“He wanted to secure the place of the elite, and real historians have undermined this myth.”

Prof Fisher travelled to the Peruvian Embassy in London last month to collect his award from the President of the Republic of Peru.

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