Los problemas del Oriente Venezolano y su reflejo en el Convento Franciscano de Cumaná

Abstract

Under the litle “The Problems of Eastern Venezuela and Their Reflection in the Franciscan Convent of Cumaná”, a series of events is presented that shows the parallels between Cumaná, the principal city of Nueva Andalucía, and the Franciscan religious order throughout the Hispanic period. This relationship has its origins in the birth of the government (circa 1514), and continues up to the time of Venezuelan independence. Both places have difficult times as well as epochs of splendor, and are therefore forced to deal with the same type of problems. The Convent has a strong influence in the city and vice versa; the tensions of the city are echoed within the Convent’s walls. The history of Cumaná itself is, in this sense, the history of its Convent.