Antonio Vazquez de Espinosa
Encyclopedia
Fray Antonio Vazquez de Espinosa (born in Jerez de la Frontera
and died Seville
, 1630) was a Spanish monk of the Discalced Carmelites
originally from Jerez de la Frontera
whose Compendio y Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales has become a source of detail for the history of South America
, since the manuscript's discovery in the Vatican Library
in 1929.
Travelling in Mexico
and Peru
where he proselytized among the native Americans, he returned to Spain in 1622, where he continued to move about, in Málaga, Madrid, Seville and other places.
He was the author of the following printed works:
The work he is now remembered for, he never published. The manuscript was discovered in the Barberini
archives of the Vatican Library in 1929 by Dr Charles Upson Clark
, who edited it for the series Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections in English (1942) and Spanish, (1944). It was reprinted in 1948.
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
and died Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, 1630) was a Spanish monk of the Discalced Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
originally from Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, situated midway between the sea and the mountains. , the city, the largest in the province, had 208,896 inhabitants; it is the fifth largest in Andalusia...
whose Compendio y Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales has become a source of detail for the history of South America
History of South America
The history of South America is the study of the past, particularly the written record, oral histories, and traditions, passed down from generation to generation on the continent in the Earth's western hemisphere and southern hemisphere. South America has a history that spans a wide range of human...
, since the manuscript's discovery in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
in 1929.
Travelling in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
where he proselytized among the native Americans, he returned to Spain in 1622, where he continued to move about, in Málaga, Madrid, Seville and other places.
He was the author of the following printed works:
- Confessionario general, luz y guía del cielo y método para poderse confesar
- Viaje y Navegación del año de 1622 que hizo la flota de Nueva España y Honduras (Málaga, 1624)
- Sumario de Indulgencias (Málaga 1623)
- Circunstancias para los tratos y contratos de las Indias del Perú y Nueva España (Málaga, 1624)
- Indiæ Descriptionem
The work he is now remembered for, he never published. The manuscript was discovered in the Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
archives of the Vatican Library in 1929 by Dr Charles Upson Clark
Charles Upson Clark
Charles Upson Clark was a professor of history at Columbia University. He discovered the Barberini Codex, the earliest Aztec writings on herbal medicines extant.-Biography:...
, who edited it for the series Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections in English (1942) and Spanish, (1944). It was reprinted in 1948.