The Theologia Indorum ("Theology for the Indians" or "Theology of the Indians") was written by the Spanish Dominican friar Domingo de Vico from 1552-1554. It is considered the first original Christian theology written in the Americas and the longest single text written in an indigenous language of the Americas in the colonial era. Written in K'iche' (sometimes written as "Quiché," a Mayan language of Guatemala, it played a major role in Spanish efforts to convert the Highland Maya.
Previous identifications of the content of the manuscript misidentified it as being in the Kaqchikel language and as consisting of sermons and biblical translation. The content, however, is an original theological work that utilizes indigenous religous beliefs and cultural practices to explain Christian doctrine.
This is a version of the first of two volumes of the Theologia Indorum, pertaining to topics from the Old Testament. Other versions exist at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and at Princeton University.
Contains two colophons, 1553 and 1605; table of contents. The body text also includes frequent marginalia. The end pages include possible birth records and other notes made by later missionary users.
This is the oldest manuscript in the APS Library's collections written in an indigenous language of the Americas.
1 volume, 185 leaves.
Gift of Academia de Ciencias de Guatemala, through Mariano Galvez, 1836.
This item appears in earlier catalogs as "Uae nima vutz rij theologi aindox ubinaan nima".
Access digital object:https://diglib.amphilsoc.org/islandora/object/text:172204
