ABOUT THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE INDIES

Abstract

Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés was born in Madrid in 1478. From a very young age he was related to royalty and its deeds. He was a page of the Duke of Villahermosa, chamber boy of Prince John, he saw the expulsion of the Jews and the recovery of Granada for the Catholic kings. He was also present when Christopher Columbus informed the Spanish monarchy about the discovery of America. He traveled to the West Indies in the armada led by Pedrarias Davila. He was to occupy the position of scribe of mines and crimes. After writing Sumario de la natural historia de Indias[About the Natural History of the Indies] as an advance of the Historia general y natural de Indias [General and Natural History of the Indies], Emperor Charles V named him the first official chronicler of America. In his most celebrated work, General and Natural History of the Indies, he describes the discovery and colonization of the West Indies. He seems to be an ethnographer who observes customs and nature. From this last book, we have selected chapters dedicated to Christopher Columbus, on the agreements of the Columbus voyage between the Crown and the navigator, and the news of the discovery.