Final answer:
The South American writers from the Colonial period combined traditional Indian (Mayan/Incan) mythology with European influences, creating a syncretic form of art and literature that reflected the cultural amalgamation of Indigenous and European elements. This was evident in 'mixed' style codices, artwork, and sculptures that incorporated both traditions, thus contributing to a hybrid cultural identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The South American writers from the Colonial period incorporated traditional Indian (Mayan/Incan) mythology with European influences. In this era, Indigenous artist-scribes, who previously used their own traditional materials, began to adopt the use of European paper and bound books for their manuscripts. The merging of local and European elements can also be seen in artworks from the time, where local materials and aesthetic influences transformed the European ideals of artistry into new forms that reflected a blend of both worlds. This resulted in unique artistic pieces that combined Indigenous traditions with European styles.
Missionaries and chroniclers, in an effort to convert native populations to Christianity, documented Indigenous cultures and incorporated some of their traditions into these 'mixed' style codices. Thus, many codices from the Colonial period feature Indigenous and European glyphs, and figures against the white background of European paper. Moreover, art forms and sculptures of that period depict biblical stories and narratives of saintly figures, integrating Indigenous perspectives and European iconography.
Overall, the syncretic works of this time represent the convergence of Indigenous and European symbolism, which has continued to influence the national identity and aesthetics within these regions. This cultural synthesis has been instrumental in the development of a distinctive, hybrid form of art and literature that is characteristic of the post-conquistador Americas.