Colonial Spanish American Literatures | Early Historiography of the New World and the Invention of America
Course Description
The first century of the Historiography about the New World, the Indies or America is examined in this course. Students observe and discuss various European approaches to the territory eventually named “America” and its inhabitants named “indios.” In this way, students will reflect on the encounter, negotiation and battle of literary, philosophical, ad historical discourses that intended to create “true” representations of the unknown reality that laid in the other side of the Atlantic.
Learning Goals
At the end of this class the students should be able to:
1. Engage critically with the rhetoric of historical texts that were written with specific interests and contributed to the creation of an imaginary about the New World in the 16th
2. Identify the origins of stereotypical representations of Indians and Africans by European eyes
3. Understand the present Hispanic world in relation to the historical occurrences of the past
4. Explain primary sources in relation to a specific topic by means of research papers and presentations. Research papers shall be of publishable quality
Required Materials
• Cristóbal Colón, Diario del primer viaje; Relación del tercer viaje
• Fray Ramón Pané, Relación de las antigüedades de los indios
• Hernán Cortés, Primera y Segunda carta(s) de relación
• Bernal Díaz del Castillo, Historia verdadera de la conquista de Nueva España
• Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, Sumaria historia natural de las Indias
• Miguel León Portilla. Visión de los vencidos
• Garcilaso de la Vega, el Inca, Comentarios reales de los Incas
• Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala, Nueva corónica y buen gobierno
• Bartolomé de Las Casas, Brevísima relación de la destruición de las Indias
• Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Naufragios
Rocío Quispe-Agnoli 