El Carnero facts for kids
| Author | Juan Rodríguez Freyle |
|---|---|
| Country | Colombia |
| Language | Spanish |
| Subject | Spanish conquest of the Muisca Conquistadors in Colombia History of Colombia |
| Genre | Semi-fiction |
| Set in | New Kingdom of Granada |
| Published | 1859 |
|
Publication date
|
1638 |
| Pages | 516 |
El Carnero (which means "The Sheep" in English) is a famous old book from Colombia. Its full title is very long: Conquest and discovery of the New Kingdom of Granada of the West Indies sea, and foundation of the city of Holy Faith of Bogota. People often call it El Carnero de Bogotá.
This book is a special kind of history called a colonial chronicle. It was written by Juan Rodríguez Freyle between 1636 and 1638. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Even though it was written in the 1600s, it wasn't published until 1859.
Contents
What is El Carnero About?
El Carnero tells the story of the Spanish conquest of the Muisca people. It describes how the Spanish explored northern South America. The book also explains how the New Kingdom of Granada was created. This area is now mostly Colombia and parts of Venezuela.
Founding of Bogotá
The book details the founding of the city of Bogotá. It also covers the first 100 years of the city's history. Bogotá was an important city. It was the first city in the kingdom to have a royal court and government offices.
Indigenous Peoples and Culture
El Carnero also describes the native people who lived in the region. It talks about their customs and culture. The book even mentions civil wars that happened between different groups.
The Myth of El Dorado
One exciting part of the book is about the myth of El Dorado. This was a legend about a "Lost City of Gold." The book describes the special ceremony of the zipa. The zipa was the leader of the Muisca Confederation. This ritual is shown in the famous Muisca raft.
History and Stories
El Carnero is meant to be a history book. However, it also includes many short, fictional stories. These stories are very important in Spanish-American literature.
An Important Historical Source
Many people consider El Carnero to be the most important source. It helps us understand the early colonial times in what became Colombia. This includes the Spanish conquest of the Muisca and other conquests in the region.
A Mix of Facts and Rumors
A researcher named Carlos Rey Pereira studied the book in 2000. He found that the events described are a mix of facts and common opinions. Some parts might even be based on rumors from that time. Rodríguez Freyle's book helped fill in gaps. It added details that other early Spanish writers like Pedro Simón and Juan de Castellanos missed.
See also
In Spanish: El Carnero para niños
- List of conquistadors in Colombia
- Spanish conquest of the Muisca
- Indigenous peoples in Colombia
- Colombian literature
- History of Colombia
- History of Bogotá
El Carnero
