Research assistant for the chronicles of the Andes
Explore the voices of Guaman Poma, Garcilaso, Betanzos, Cieza de León,
and dozens more chroniclers through AI-powered dialogue with primary sources.
How to use Cronista
Cronista is an orchestrator agent that works with your entire library of primary
sources. It cross-references passages across multiple chroniclers, cites specific
chapters and pages, and synthesizes findings with the rigor of ethnographic
thick description — drawing on the sensibilities of Malinowski, Geertz,
and Olivier de Sardan.
◆
Ask specific questions“What does Guaman Poma say about the organization of the Inca road system?”
works better than “Tell me about roads.”
◆
Compare chroniclers“How do Garcilaso and Cieza de León differ on the siege of Cusco?”
— Cronista triangulates across sources, approaches, and positions.
◆
Request close readingsAsk for detailed analysis of specific passages, their historiographic
context, and the perspective of the narrator.
◆
Override defaultsYou can ask Cronista to adjust its response style, language,
or analytical focus at any point in the conversation.