596 - ¿The Friar and the Maya: 1562 and 2012¿

16.07.2012 | 17:30 - 19:30
17.07.2012 | 17:30 - 19:30

Coordenator 1: Restall, Matthew (Penn State University , University Park, Ud States of Am / USA)
Coordenator 2: Solari, Amara (Penn State University, University Park, Ud States of Am / USA)

This multi-disciplinary symposium brings together historians, anthropologists, and art historians to discuss a pivotal moment in world history: the European-Native American encounter of the sixteenth century. Our chosen window onto the dynamic cultural process that resulted from this encounter is the Yucatan peninsula, where Franciscan friars and Maya elites forged a fascinating relationship in the crucible of the Spiritual Conquest. The dominant missionary figure was Diego de Landa, whose writings, deeds, and legacy we will examine in detail. The oldest copy of the only surviving manuscript of Landa’s is in Vienna, so the ICA/Vienna is an appropriate place to hold this conversation. We intend our collaboration to result in a new edition of Landa’s text (his Relación de las cosas de Yucatán ), complete with essays based on our ICA papers. Historian John Chuchiak will explore the topic of anti-idolatry campaigns (starting with the infamous and violent one of 1562) and the effectiveness of Franciscan efforts to destroy Maya “idols” and codices. Anthropologist Traci Ardren will examine Landa’s attitude towards Maya women and children, analyzing his colonial “eye.” Art historians Amara Solari and Cody Barteet will show how friar-Maya collaboration left a hybrid legacy on the urban and architectural landscape. Anthropologists Timothy Knowlton and Gabrielle Vail will relate the written worldview of Landa and his Franciscan peers to the Maya worldview contained in codices and Chilam Balam literature. Historian Matthew Restall and art historian Amara Solari will look at the millenarianism of Landa and his colleagues—and of the Maya themselves—and reveal the relevance of this history to the supposed end of the world in December 2012.

Palavras-chaves: Yucatan, millenarianism, Spiritual Conquest, Maya, 2012