Resumen
Written in 1602 by Martín del Barco Centenera, a Spanish cleric and chronicler, La Argentina is one of the earliest literary works to use the name “Argentina.” The poem recounts in hexameter verse the events surrounding the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Río de la Plata region, covering a span of about 24 years from the author’s own experiences in the late 16th century.
Part historical narrative, part personal memoir, and part mythological flourish, the poem includes:
Descriptions of expeditions by figures such as Pedro de Mendoza and Juan de Garay
Accounts of indigenous peoples and their customs
Fantastical elements (such as giants and monsters) common in Renaissance literature
The founding of cities such as Buenos Aires and Asunción
Commentary on colonial society and the conflicts between settlers and natives
The work is a rare blend of first-hand observation and classical poetic form, providing a valuable, if stylized, window into the early colonial history of southern South America.