LITERATURE OF DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST IN COLOMBIA - LITERATURE - 2025

The literature of discovery and conquest in Colombia was strongly influenced by the domination of the conquerors from the beginning. By the time the Spanish arrived in America, power in Spain was shared between the church and the kings.

Along with the nobles, the priests belonged to the group of social classes that were educated in the art of writing. It was to them that the Spanish crown entrusted to educate and catechize the natural populations of the new territories.

Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, representative of the literature of the conquest of Colombia

Consequently, all the literature produced in this period portrayed the conceptions and prejudices of the authors. This trend encompassed almost all artistic production within the period, and lasted until the conquest.

Those in charge of promoting literature in the New World had as their mission population control. In this way, they made use of all possible tools.

Thus, the literature of discovery and conquest in Colombia became an instrument for regulating behaviors. This occurred in all its different varieties - history, poetry, and others. Only very few exceptional cases of literary works for purposes other than domination occurred during this period.

Origin and history of the Colombian literature of discovery and conquest

The first Spanish expeditionaries arrived in what is now known as Colombia in 1499. At the head of the expedition was the Spanish Alonso de Ojeda.

Upon arrival, he meets an indigenous population rich in cultural traditions and with its own identity. They did not have a formal recording system for their memory. Transmission is done orally from generation to generation.

What is known as the literature of discovery was written many years later by the Spanish and by converted mestizos. In general, they were chronicles (narration of historical events in chronological order). In them, the vision and cultural heritage of the Spanish conqueror were unified with the traditions, myths and legends of the aboriginal people.

With the beginning of the conquest, the native peoples began to suffer an attack on their culture, and the indigenous peoples were progressively exterminated. This together with the importation of blacks brought from Africa puts the indigenous populations on the brink of their disappearance. Literary works continue in the hands of the Spanish, who gave predominance to religious themes.

Later, the Holy Inquisition begins to censor the chronicles from New Granada. Especially those that, in the opinion of the high Catholic prelates, encouraged the natives to continue practicing their own rites.

From that moment, the diffusion of literary production from the New World began to be hindered and it tried to keep its inhabitants out of the entire cultural movement of the old continent.

This situation continues until the 17th century, when botanical expeditions are reactivated. These expeditions traveled to the interior of the territory to document the biological diversity of the lands. These reports mostly occupied Colombian literary production until the arrival of the independence movements.

Issues

In general, two phases can be distinguished in the literature of discovery and conquest in Colombia.

First phase: discovery

The first phase was marked by an eagerness to record and describe the novelties found in the New World. Literature narrated the experiences and adventures lived by the conquerors.

At the same time, an inventory was made of the elements typical of the conquered lands. Topics such as vegetation, indigenous people, animals, climate and water resources became a source of literary inspiration. The intention of this production was to make known to the Spanish Crown the new territory that it dominated.

Second phase: conquest

In the conquest phase, the record and the narrative are maintained. However, the religious theme begins to take precedence.

The theme of the books revolves around the lives of Catholic martyrs and saints, as well as the exaltation of European religious and moral values. These books are used as support in the catechization work of the indigenous tribes.

At the end of this period, Creole children of Spaniards born in the viceroyalty of New Granada joined the literary production.

This fledgling group begins to write on various subjects: edifying literature, science, public speaking, history, and literature. But they are a very small group.

characteristics

Written by upper-class Spaniards

The literature of the discovery and conquest in Colombia is characterized by having been produced mainly by Spaniards who belonged for the most part to an ecclesiastical elite. It was written for the benefit of a minority of the non-American upper class. Religious motifs characterized Colonial literature.

Chronicle as a means of expression

On the other hand, the predominant means of expression was the chronicle. Its production was in charge only of people commissioned by the Spanish Crown.

The chronicles were reports of the development of entrusted tasks that were expected by the king or his representatives. The structure of these merged with the poetic language of the novel.

Thus, a genre was obtained that transcended the mere description of the facts. The events, situations and characters related were embellished with contributions from the author.

On occasion, the chronicles spread Colombian myths and legends generated during the discovery. An example of this is found in the legends of El Dorado and The Fountain of Eternal Youth.

Praise of the conquerors

The contents of the literature of the discovery and conquest in Colombia praised the conquerors, governors and kings. Rather, it was a historical literature where dates related to the events described predominated.

Works and authors

Forming part of the literature of the discovery and conquest of Colombia is 'El Yurupapy'. It is an oral epic collected from the indigenous people in the Vaupés region in the 16th century, published in 1890.

The transcription was made by Spaniards, and is one of the few available samples of the discovery literature.

Among other representatives of this literature are:

Fray Pedro de Aguado (1538-1609)

He was a Spanish Franciscan missionary and one of the first chroniclers of Hispanic America. His works include History of Santa Marta and the new kingdom of Granada. Volumes 1 and 2 (1575).

Fray Pedro Simón (1574-1628)

This Spanish Franciscan chronicler was recognized for an extensive work on the conquest and colonization. One of its most important pieces was Historical News of the conquests of Tierra Firme in the West Indies.

Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (1499-1579)

The renowned Spanish lawyer, chronicler and conqueror is the author of Antijovio (1567). The main purpose of this book was to defend Spain's reputation against accusations of Aboriginal mistreatment made by other empires (specifically the Italian).

Fray Bartolomé de las Casas (1484-1566)

He was a Spanish Dominican clergyman and religious. He tenaciously defended the rights of the Indians during the colonization of America. Among his extensive work, the book entitled History of the destruction of the Indies (1552) stands out.

This book describes the effects that colonization had on Native Americans. With this work the black legend of the conquest of America would begin.

Articles of interest

Literature of the Independence of Colombia.

References

1. Suárez G., CA et al. (2004). Colombia: history, geography, literature, art, Universal and Colombian Atlas. Bogotá: Editorial Norma.
2. Caputo, L.; Newton, P. and McColl R. (2008). VIVA Travel Guides. Colombia. Quito: VIVA publishing network.
3. Camarero Gil, C. (s / f). Aguado, Fray Pedro (1538-1609). Retrieved on February 17, 2018, from mcnbiografias.com.
4. Cervantes Virtual Center. (s / f). Fray Pedro Simón. Retrieved on February 17, 2018, from cvc.cervantes.es.
5. History and Biography (2017, October 13). Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Retrieved on February 17, 2018, from historia-biografia.com.
6. Search biographies. (s / f). Bartolomé de las Casas. Retrieved on February 17, 2018, from Buscabiografias.com.
7. Franco Bagnouls, M. (2004). Hispanic American literature. Mexico DF: Editorial Limusa.