PRE-HISPANIC LITERATURE: ORIGINS, CHARACTERISTICS, THEMES - LITERATURE - 2024

The prehispanic literature includes all expressions of own literary character of the American continent before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors who mostly belong to the oral tradition. In pre-Columbian times, three cultures stood out for their literary legacy.

These three cultures were the Nahuatl or Aztec (Anahuac Valley, Mexico), the Mayan (Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala) and the Inca (Peru and Ecuador). Mesoamerica (Mayan and Aztec region) has provided the oldest and best known indigenous literature in the Americas.

Representation of one of the stories told in the Popol Vuh

Part of this literature is recorded in pre-Columbian writing systems. It mostly reflects the themes of religion and astronomy, and dynastic stories and myth. This literature began to be known from the codices and the inscriptions on the monuments.

In contrast, pre-Hispanic Inca literature was oral. Quechua (a language spoken by the Incas) lacked a writing system. This was passed down through generations and was subject to change. Subsequently, part of the early literature after European contact was recorded in Latin, in accordance with Spanish spelling conventions.

origins

It is difficult to trace the origins of pre-Hispanic literature since, after the Conquest, much of the cultural heritage of the native population was destroyed.

In general, given its eminently oral character, it is assumed that this literature developed in parallel with the evolution of the great Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations.

Aztec

The Aztecs came to central Mexico from the north in the 1200s. According to their legends, they came from a land called Aztlán; hence its name. They were various groups, including the Colhua-Mexica, the Mexica, and the Tenochca.

In the early 1300s these groups formed an alliance and founded a city-state called Tenochtitlán, today Mexico City. This town came to power and conquered a great empire during the 15th century.

The Aztec civilization had a writing system similar to that of the Mayans. The Aztecs wrote their literature in codices, books that folded like a fan, and the paper was made from vegetable fiber of agar.

Mayas

The Classic Maya period (250-950 AD) saw the consolidation of power in the great cities of the Yucatecan Maya, such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. It was in this period that the incredible cultural advances for which they are famous took place.

In the 7th century, when English literature first appeared, the Maya had a long tradition of inscribing ornaments, ceramic vessels, monuments, and the walls of temples and palaces.

Also, they had started writing books. Their system was a combination of phonetic symbols and ideograms, and it fully represented spoken language to the same extent as the Old World writing system.

Inca

The Inca civilization flourished in ancient Peru between AD 1400 and 1533. This empire spread across western South America, from Quito in the north to Santiago de Chile in the south.

Unlike the Mayans and Aztecs, they did not have a writing system. However, the Incas appear to have had a well-developed tradition of pre-Hispanic oral literature, as the few surviving fragments attest.

Characteristics of pre-Hispanic literature

Although in Mesoamerica sacred texts, poetic and dramatic rituals had been transmitted in part by means of hieroglyphic and pictographic writing, all pre-Hispanic literature is considered oral.

This was transmitted mainly by rote from generation to generation. It took its proper written form when the Spanish Conquest occurred and the alphabetic system was introduced.

On the other hand, except in some cases -especially in Mexican territory-, the preserved texts are not attributed to any author. Thus, another common characteristic of pre-Hispanic literature is its anonymity.

Furthermore, the texts are not original, as they are reworkings made under the influence of the Catholic Church and the Spanish.

Aztec

The purpose of pre-Hispanic Aztec literature was to preserve the knowledge accumulated through the generations; therefore it encompassed all aspects of life. These included medicine, history, law, religion, and rituals.

In terms of genres, poetry was the most important. All the poems had an esoteric background. The prose had a mainly didactic purpose and the theater was carried out in the form of ritual dances and songs.

Maya

After the Conquest, part of the pre-Hispanic Mayan literature was transcribed using the Latin alphabet. Most of these works are prose texts that were intended to preserve the historical legacy of their culture.

Apart from that, not much of Mayan poetry was preserved, and theater was part of their religious rituals. Like the Aztec, the latter consisted of dances and songs of a ritual nature.

Inca

Pre-Hispanic Inca literature privileged poetry. Most were narrative poems dealing with religion, mythology, and history. These were to be memorized word for word, and were to be repeated in public meetings.

This poetry was not very elegant, but it expressed its message in a short and direct way. The Inca poets did not use poetic structures, such as rhyme, specific rhythm sequences, or meter.

Another type of Inca literature consisted of prayers and hymns, dramatic pieces, and songs. The prayers and hymns gave graceful praise to the Inca deities, much like the hymns of the Old Testament.

Likewise, the dramatic pieces were presented as part of the public dances and were performed by one or two actors; then a chorus responded. These and the myths probably emphasized religious themes.

Topics that were written about

The religious theme is a constant in pre-Hispanic literature. These civilizations were polytheistic and pantheistic. That is, they believed in many gods and equated them with the universe and nature.

The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas shared many common beliefs, deities, and rituals. Their religion was rooted in both the earth and the sky, the rhythms of the seasons and the movements of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Therefore, there were also similarities in the topics covered in his literary works.

Aztec

In pre-Hispanic Aztec literature the theme of the fierce and violent struggle of the gods predominates. The poets showed their respect for the divinities through their art; by doing so they sought to appease his fury.

Other common topics were the creation of the universe, the exaltation of heroes, friendship, love, life and death.

Maya

One of the topics discussed in pre-Hispanic Mayan literature was the creation of the world. An example of this is his most representative work, the Popol Vuh or Sacred Book of the Maya-k'iche '.

In addition, many of his works speak of cosmic eras, the cultural hero Quetzalcoatl and the origin of corn.

Inca

Apart from the religious theme, much of the Inca poetry dealt with agrarian activities: crops, crops, fertility of the fields and others. This type of poetry was especially in charge of the imperial poets.

On the other hand, popular poets wrote about more individual themes, such as the loss of a love. The military theme of battles and victories was also very popular.

Authors and outstanding works

Aztec

Nezahualcoyot

Known as the poet king of Texcoco, Nezahualcóyotl stands out as a representative of Aztec literature. 36 of his poetic compositions are preserved in various collections of manuscripts of pre-Hispanic songs.

Scholars affirm that the composition highlights the beauty of the Nahuatl language. They also ensure that the content is full of philosophical depth.

Nezahualcóyotl's poetry sings of spring, flowers and the arrival of the rainy season. It also contains historical references and autobiographical elements, especially regarding his career as a warrior.

Maya

Popol Vuh

One of the great literary pieces of pre-Hispanic Mayan literature is the Popol Vuh. This anonymous work tries to explain the ideas about the formation of the world, the myths and thoughts of the Mayan-K'iche 'people.

Its content has a mythical intention in trying to respond to the origin of the universe and of man, but it also evidences a historical intention that seeks to preserve the tradition of the great families of the K'iche 'people.

Rabinal Achí

Another remarkable work is the Rabinal Achí; it is the most important work of pre-Columbian theater. This represents the sacrifice and death of the Cavek Queché man.

Other no less important productions of Mayan literature are the Books of Chilam Balam, the Annals of the Cakchiqueles and the Title of the Lords of Totonicapán.

Inca

Ollantay

The best known work of Inca literature is the drama titled Ollantay. It was transcribed into Quechua during the Colony and later José Sebastián Barranca (Peruvian naturalist scientist, philologist and teacher) translated it in 1868.

Its transcription was in charge of Spanish priests; therefore, historians doubt its purity. The Christian and European themes contained in some of its parts contribute to this perception.

In the 16th century, Garcilaso de la Vega recorded part of pre-Hispanic poetry in the work Real Comments. For his part, Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala did the same with the legends and songs in his New Chronicle and Good Government.

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