Abstract

IRWIN, Domingo. A german naval intelligence report on asphalt and oil in the Orinoco delta, 1902. Tiempo y Espacio [online]. 2013, vol.23, n.59, pp.77-89. ISSN 1315-9496.

We seek in this essay to offer a comment, methodologically using documentary analysis and historical criticism, of a letter written by the commanding officer of Her Majesty's Ship "Falke" on April 21, 1902. The letter in question is labeled "Political-Military Report and Maritime" and was signed by the captain of corvette (Korvettenkapitän) Musculus [Sic]. Particularly interested in references to a German oil asphalt and Pedernales Island, as well as holding the official interview with German banker and Venezuelan general, the visible head of the Liberating Revolution, Manuel Antonio Matos in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Positive criticism was relatively easy, due to the nature of the text-a routine naval intelligence report. Negative transactions accurately and honestly applied to the document in question, were certainly interesting, same can be said of the examination of historical news content present in the document; seeking brevity, documentary analysis does not open new visions of fantastical events historic Creole, but modest and interesting contributions to the basic historical chronicle Venezuelan 1902. To conclude we argue the importance of documentary analysis and historical criticism, in the training of students in a high school history teacher training and the need to strengthen institutional spaces such remains the case.

Keywords : History of Venezuela; document analysis; historical criticism.

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