HIST/LAS 3401W: Study Guide for Guaman Poma, selections from Chronicle (Primary Doc)

These are selections from an extraordinary primary chronicle (written in the early 1600s) addressed to the King of Spain by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, who was descended from the native Andean nobility.  See the chapter by Rolena Adorno in The Human Tradition, for background on Guaman Poma and the context of his times.

The English selection is excerpted from a recent translation: Guaman Poma de Ayala, Felipe. The First New Chronicle and Good Government, Abridged. Translated by David Frye. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2006.  The Spanish selection comes from: Guaman Poma de Ayala, Felipe. Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno.Caracas: Biblioteca Ayacucho, 1980.
You can view a scanned version of the handwritten manuscript and drawings at:

http://www.kb.dk/permalink/2006/poma/info/en/frontpage.htm

In the first selection, Guaman Poma analyzes the administration of Viceroy Francisco Toledo (1569-81); see Andrien, Andean Worlds, 49-56 for more on Toledo.

How does Guaman Poma attempt to justify his critique of Toledo?

How does Guaman Poma depict the execution of Topa Amaro (also know as Túpac Amaru)?

In the second selection, Guaman Poma imagines questions that the king might ask him and then provides his answers. 

What does the choice of questions reflect about Guaman Poma’s concerns?

In what ways does Guaman Poma attempt to appeal strategically to the king?

Overall, to what degree do you think Guaman Poma challenges Spanish rule?

Please tear off this section and return to your T.A. when you have finished the book:

EVALUATION OF GUAMAN POMA, SELECTIONS FROM CHRONICLE

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