The Peruvian word Janqui means "white." When explorer Hiram Bingham first encountered Machu Picchu in 1911, Native inhabitants persistently referred to him by this term. Upon his return, he recounted the tale to coastal high society—who were captivated by the exotic narrative. A baseball team owner was especially enamored with the story. By 1913, the "Highlanders" had ceremoniously become the "Yankees," weaving an ancient Native utterance permanently into the modern mythos of America & the rest is history.
