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Representations of indigenous people from South America: the undermining of indigeneity and colonial complexity in 16th and 17th centuries written accounts

Villacres, Myriam Paola
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Abstract
This thesis discusses the depictions of indigenous people from South America in 16th and 17th centuries written accounts. Indigenous communities were forced to assimilate into the newly colonial structures and hierarchies brought by Spanish conquistadors. This created a restructuring of government and society where natives became subject of the Spanish crown and followers of Christian faith. Written accounts began to appear in the Spanish literary scene, becoming popular in the middle stages of the conquest. These created a biased and wrong historical narrative where indigenous communities were secondary actors in their own stories. Focusing on Natural and Moral History of the Indies by José de Acosta and Royal Commentaries of the Yncas by El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, this thesis suggests that historical representations where indigeneity is given a place to interact are more accurate than those written from a European observational perspective. The complexity of colonialism in South America and the representations that follow should be looked at with a critical lens to understand the presence and/or lack of agency of indigenous people.
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Thesis (B.A. in Communications)--John Cabot University, Spring 2023.
Date
2023
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Keywords
Indigenous peoples, Politics and government, Government relations, Community development
Citation
Villacres, Myriam Paola. "Representations of indigenous people from South America: the undermining of indigeneity and colonial complexity in 16th and 17th centuries written accounts". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2023.
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