Latin America: The Colonial Era

Catalog description

This course begins with an overview of Spain and Portugal in the era before 1492 and continues with an analysis of the classic Amerindian civilizations of Mexico and Peru. It studies early Spanish administrative institutions established in the Caribbean and examines their transfer to the mainlands of North and South America. Developments in Portuguese Brazil during the same period will be surveyed. The Spanish mercantile system will be described as well as its collapse in the late 18-century, and the emergence of the first foci of the movements for independence.