La literatura precolombina: mexica, inca y maya | Historia, autores y obras

Summary

Pre-Columbian literature encompasses the rich oral and written traditions of American indigenous peoples before European contact. It includes religious texts, war narratives, and cosmological accounts, reflecting the diverse cultures of the Incas, Mexicas, and Mayans. Despite colonization's impact, this literature offers insights into ancient American societies, with notable works like the Popol Vuh and the Bourbon Codex. It highlights themes of religion, war, and social cohesion, often using repetition and didactic intent to convey moral values.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Pre-Columbian literature encompasses texts from the American continent created before European colonization, reflecting the oral traditions and collective memory of indigenous peoples.
• 📜 These texts were initially part of codices, drawings, and inscriptions, serving religious, ritual, and social purposes, distinct from modern literature's objectives.
• 🗣️ The concept of pre-Columbian literature emerged from the cultural clash and the efforts of both indigenous people to preserve their traditions and Europeans to evangelize.
• 🏺 Prominent cultures contributing to pre-Columbian literature include the Incas, Mexicas (Aztecs), and Mayans, each with unique literary interests and manifestations.
• 📚 The Popol Vuh from the Mayan culture is a significant text explaining the origin of the world and is a cornerstone of pre-Columbian literature.
• 🕊️ Despite the colonizing perspective implied in classifying these texts, pre-Columbian literature has been crucial for understanding the original cultures of the American continent.
• ✝️ Religious texts are predominant in pre-Columbian literature, focusing on gods, rituals, and spiritual matters, often with didactic intentions.
• 🛡️ War and its associated themes were also significant, with texts detailing warrior exploits and battle narratives.
• 🔄 The repetition of themes, emotions, and phrases was a literary device used to emphasize certain aspects and instill moral values in the audience.
• 🌱 Mayan literature, in particular, is characterized by its connection to nature, use of hieroglyphics, and the preservation of authorship in its texts.
• 🎭 Inca literature is marked by its fusion of music, poetry, and dance, with an oral tradition that was later transcribed into written form.

Q & A

What is Pre-Columbian literature?

Pre-Columbian literature refers to the set of literary texts created in the American continent before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and subsequent European colonization. These texts originated from the oral tradition and collective memory of the indigenous peoples and civilizations of America.

How were pre-Columbian texts preserved?

Pre-Columbian texts were preserved through inscriptions, codes, and various writings that were later recovered during the colonial era. They were transcribed into phonetic writing systems of the original languages, capturing legends, myths, narratives, and rituals.

What are the origins and historical context of Pre-Columbian literature?

Pre-Columbian literature is not based on strict literary production but recovers texts or writings from pre-colonial civilizations, using various writing systems for religious, ritual, and social purposes.

Which cultures are included in the formation of Pre-Columbian literature?

Cultures that contribute to the formation of Pre-Columbian literature include the Incas, Mexicas (Aztecs), and Mayans, each with their own unique literary manifestations and interests.

What is the significance of the Popol Vuh in Mayan literature?

The Popol Vuh is a prominent text in Mayan literature, explaining the origin of the world and representing one of the most significant literary achievements of the Mayan civilization.

How did the arrival of the Spanish impact the preservation of pre-Columbian knowledge?

The arrival of the Spanish led to the hiding of much of the original peoples' knowledge. However, some cultures sought ways to continue their traditions and rites, leading to the preservation of some pre-Columbian literature.

What are the general characteristics of pre-Columbian literature?

Pre-Columbian literature is characterized by a predominance of religious texts, addressing war issues, repetition of themes and emotions, emphasis and repetition of phrases, didactic intentions, and the use of religion as a tool for social cohesion.

What are the unique characteristics of Mexica literature?

Mexica literature is characterized by texts in codices, which were meant to be recited rather than read, the use of literary devices like metaphor, association with noble classes, and the inclusion of songs and poems with religious and dance elements.

How is Mayan literature related to nature and religion?

Mayan literature is directly related to nature, showing respect for the environment as a life-giving entity. It also contains religious texts with the presence of multiple gods, and uses hieroglyphics, which influenced the development of literary texts.

What are some notable works of Inca literature?

Notable works of Inca literature include Aranway, a humorous composition, the Myth of the Ayar brothers which tells the foundation story of Cusco, and the Wiracocha myth, which discusses the main Inca deity and creator.

What is the role of oral tradition in Inca literature?

Oral tradition is an essential component of Inca literature, with myths, songs, and legends being transmitted from generation to generation to keep historical events and collective memory alive, which later turned into written literature.