The Politics of Memory: Native Historical Interpretation in the Colombian Andes (Latin America Otherwise)

How does a culture in which writing is not a prominent feature create historical tradition? In __The Politics of Memory__, Joanne Rappaport answers this question by tracing the past three centuries of the intellectual history of the Nasa—a community in the Colombian Andes. Focusing on the Nasa historians of the eighteenth through twentieth centuries, Rappaport highlights the differences between "native" history and Eurocentric history and demonstrates how these histories must be examined in relation to the particular circumstances in which they were produced. Reconsidering the predominantly mythic status of non-Western historical narrative, Rappaport identifies the political realities that influenced the form and content of Andean history, revealing the distinct historical vision of these stories. Because of her examination of the influences of literacy in the creation of history, Rappaport’s analysis makes a special contribution to Latin American and Andean studies, solidly grounding subaltern texts in their sociopolitical contexts. The Italian Dominican friar Silvestro Mazzolini da Prierio (1456-1527), known as Prierias, is chiefly remembered as the church official designated to respond to Luther's 95 theses of December 1517 - a response blamed for fanning the flames of the Reformation throughout Europe. In Prierias, Michael Tavuzzi presents the first full biography of this little-known, yet eminent, sixteenth-century ecclesiastic, as well as an account of his wide-ranging literary works. Tavuzzi shows that, aside from being Luther's first opponent, Prierias played a key role in significant early-sixteenth-century controversies such as the cases of Reuchlin, Erasmus, and Pomponazzi. Drawing on previously untapped primary sources, Tavuzzi traces Prierias's early career as preacher, professor, inquisitor, and administrator, and places him in the context of the struggles fought between unreformed and observant friars during the Renaissance. Prierias's activities as Master of the Sacred Palace, his longstanding and bitter conflict with Cardinal Cajetan, and especially his forceful writings warning against the threat of witches and witchcraft are also described. Focusing closely on Prierias's clash with Luther, Tavuzzi accounts for its development and illuminates the ecclesiological issues at stake.

How does a culture in which writing is not a prominent feature create historical tradition? In The Politics of Memory, Joanne Rappaport answers this question by tracing the past three centuries of the intellectual history of the Nasa—a community in the Colombian Andes. Focusing on the Nasa historians of the eighteenth through twentieth centuries, Rappaport highlights the differences between "native" history and Eurocentric history and demonstrates how these histories must be examined in relation to the particular circumstances in which they were produced.
Reconsidering the predominantly mythic status of non-Western historical narrative, Rappaport identifies the political realities that influenced the form and content of Andean history, revealing the distinct historical vision of these stories. Because of her examination of the influences of literacy in the creation of history, Rappaport’s analysis makes a special contribution to Latin American and Andean studies, solidly grounding subaltern texts in their sociopolitical contexts.

Contents About the Series Preface to the Duke Edition List of Illustrations Preface 1. Introduction: Interpreting the Past Part I. The Creation of a Chiefly Ideology: Nasa Historical Thought under Spanish Rule 2. The Rise of the Colonial Cacique 3. The Birth of the Myth: Don Juan Tama y Calambás Part II. From Colony to Republic: Cacique and Caudillo 4. The Chiefdom Transformed: The Nineteenth-Century Nasa 5. From Sharecropper to Caudillo: Manuel Quintín Lame Part III. Contemporary Historical Voices 6. The Cacique Reborn: The Twentieth-Century Nasa 7. Julio Niquinás, a Contemporary Nasa Historian 8. Conclusion: Narrative and Image in a Textual Community Glossary Notes References Index How does a culture in which writing is not a prominent feature create historical tradition? Researcher Joanne Rappaport answers the question by tracing the past three centuries of intellectual history of the Nasa--a community in the Colombian Andes. Originally published in 1990 but of continuing interest to all scholars of Latin America. 21 illustrations.