CONSIDERACIONES INICIALES SOBRE LA CULTURA LETRADA EN LA COLOMBIA DEL SIGLO XVI

El ensayo discute la difundida creencia de que en los origenes de la formacion de Colombia —y, en particular, durante el siglo xvi— no fueron significativas las practicas de lectura y de escritura dentro de la poblacion comun, basicamente porque la aplastante mayoria de la poblacion era analfabeta, y las urgencias de la conquista hacian irrelevantes los esfuerzos para el aprendizaje educativo; a pesar de la inexistencia de estadisticas confiables, el autor presenta testimonios que demuestran la vitalidad del interes social por apropiarse de los valores de la palabra escrita. Palabras clave: Virreinato de la Nueva Granada, practicas de lectura, siglo xvi, alfabetizacion. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF WRITTEN CULTURE IN SIXTEENTH-CENTURY COLOMBIA Abstract: This paper discusses the common belief that in the origins of formation in Colombia, particularly during the 16th century, reading and writing were not significant practices among common people. This was basically because the overwhelming majority of the population was illiterate, and the urgency for conquest made educational learning efforts irrelevant. Despite the absence of reliable statistics, the author provides testimonies that prove the vitality of society’s interest in appropriating the value of the written word. Key words: Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, reading practices, 16th century, literacy. DOI: 10.17533/udea.lyl.n71a02