WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
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Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala, better known as Guamán Poma, was an indigenous Peruvian chronicler born in the mid-16th century. His most famous work, El Primer Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno, is one of the most eloquent testimonies of the effects of Spanish colonization on the Andean people. In this vast manuscript, Guamán Poma not only documents the history of the Incas but also exposes the abuses suffered by indigenous people under Spanish colonial rule. His legacy remains a vital reference for understanding Andean history and the indigenous perspective on colonization.
Guamán Poma was born around 1535 in the region of Huamanga (modern-day Ayacucho) into a noble Inca family connected to the former rulers of the Tawantinsuyo. Despite his noble origins, he grew up during a period marked by Spanish domination and the drastic transformation of the political, social, and economic structures of the Peruvian territory. Like many other noble indigenous families, Guamán Poma's family had to adapt to the new rules imposed by the colonizers. However, from an early age, Guamán Poma developed a profound critical awareness of the injustices his people faced under the colonial system.
His education was unique, combining knowledge of indigenous traditions with the teachings brought by the Spanish. He learned to read and write in Spanish, which later allowed him to compose his famous chronicle. This dual education gave him a unique insight into the contrasts and tensions between indigenous culture and the colonial system imposed on Peru.
His most important work, El Primer Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno, was written between 1600 and 1615. This manuscript, consisting of over 1,000 pages and nearly 400 illustrations, is one of the most powerful critiques of the colonial regime from an indigenous perspective. Throughout his work, Guamán Poma provides a detailed account of Inca history, the arrival of the Spaniards, and the devastating impact of the conquest on indigenous populations.
Divided into several sections, the chronicle begins with an account of the Andean worldview and the mythical origins of the Incas. Guamán Poma presents the Incas as a civilized and just people who lived in harmony with their environment and respected their subjects. This vision contrasts sharply with the brutality brought by the Spaniards, whose rule, according to him, was characterized by violence, exploitation, and expropriation.
One of the most striking parts of the chronicle is his denunciation of the encomienda system and the abuses committed by the encomenderos. Guamán Poma recounts how indigenous people were subjected to forced labor, land confiscation, and cruel treatment, often leading to their deaths. He also harshly criticizes the Catholic Church for allowing these abuses to occur under the guise of evangelization.
What makes Guamán Poma's work particularly remarkable is that he does not limit himself to criticizing the colonial regime; he also offers solutions to improve the situation. In his vision of "good government," Guamán Poma suggests a more just administrative system in which indigenous people play an active role in decision-making and where their rights and customs are respected. He advocates for replacing Spanish corregidores with indigenous leaders who better understand the needs of their communities and calls for an end to the systematic exploitation of resources and people.
His concept of "good government" is largely inspired by the Inca administrative system, which he believed ensured the well-being of all citizens and maintained the balance between humans and nature. Although his proposals were never implemented, they reflect Guamán Poma's desire to unite the best aspects of both indigenous and Spanish cultures to create a more equitable system.
Another remarkable aspect of El Primer Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno is the use of illustrations that accompany the text. Guamán Poma created more than 400 drawings that complement his written descriptions, making his work not only a historical document but also a visual masterpiece. These illustrations depict scenes from Inca daily life, as well as episodes of violence and abuse perpetrated by the Spanish colonizers. They also portray Spanish authorities, priests, and indigenous figures, often highlighting the contrasts between the two cultures.
Guamán Poma's style is unique in that, although he uses Spanish as the written language, his work is deeply influenced by the Andean worldview. He employs metaphors and expressions rooted in his culture, giving the chronicle a hybrid character that reflects the complexity of the encounter between indigenous and European cultures.
Guamán Poma's manuscript was sent to King Philip III of Spain, but it was never published or widely disseminated during his time. It remained lost for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1908 at the Royal Library of Copenhagen in Denmark, where it is still preserved today. Since then, his work has been the subject of numerous studies and is considered an invaluable source for understanding Andean history during the colonial period.
Throughout the 20th century, Guamán Poma has been recognized as one of the most important indigenous voices of the colonial era. His work has been translated into several languages and is widely studied in the fields of history, literature, and anthropology. His denunciation of colonial abuses remains relevant today, and his proposal for a more just and equitable government resonates with contemporary ideals of human rights and social justice.
Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala is now remembered as a visionary chronicler whose work offers a unique perspective on life in The Andes during the colonial period. His Primer Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno not only documents the abuses committed by the colonizers but also proposes solutions based on justice and respect for indigenous culture. Through his texts and illustrations, Guamán Poma left a monumental legacy that remains an essential reference for understanding the complexity of Peru's colonial history and the impact of the Spanish conquest on indigenous peoples.