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Article ID: CBB108052500

The Role of Libraries in the Missionary Regions of Orinoquia (2015)

Fajardo, José del Rey (Author)

Journal of Jesuit Studies
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 208-222
Publication date: 2015
Language: English

DOI: 10.1163/22141332-00202003

URI: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/22141332-00202003

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Missionaries and missions Education Cross-cultural interaction; cultural influence Indigenous peoples; indigeneity Imperialism Colonialism Libraries and archives 17th century Venezuela Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

Beginning in 1661, the Jesuits conducted missionary activity in the Orinoquia [the Orinoco delta]. Among the more significant challenges was the introduction of literacy to a people whose concepts of history and society were quite foreign to Spanish and Italian priests. Creating Christians would therefore entail creating a literate culture: the Jesuits began by learning local traditions and committing these to paper, and only then teaching the children of the region to read and write. While none of these teaching books survive, the missionary schools and houses kept libraries which included volumes on regional crafts and history, along with items the Jesuits considered useful or necessary: music, instruments, and books authored by members of the Society. The inhabitants of the Orinoco River watershed thus had access to European books as well as those in indigenous languages, both of which simultaneously supported and shaped life within the missions and reductions.

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