Entrevista a José Luis de Rojas, etnohistoriador, entre otras cosas

Abstract

José Luis de Rojas is a prominent ethnohistorian with a doctorate in American History from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). His career has focused on research into the economy, politics, and society of central Mexico before and after the arrival of the Spaniards, the study of the Nahuatl language, and the analysis of chronicles and American documents from the Early Modern period. He has also been a professor and researcher at various institutions in Mexico, Spain, and Argentina. For Rojas, Ethnohistory differs from traditional history in its focus on Indigenous peoples, highlighting the importance of both European and Indigenous sources and the evolution of their analysis. He values the impact of digital tools on research, although he acknowledges their limitations. His experience in archives and libraries is varied, and he values the professionalism of the staff and access to original documents. He advocates for an interdisciplinary approach and the need to study Indigenous peoples, Spaniards, and mestizos together to understand the social complexity of Mexico and Latin America.