Survey of Latin American History: Pre-Columbian America to Present Day

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the main currents of Latin American civilization from European conquest to the present, with special attention to the historical background of present controversies. Attention will be paid not only to such dramatic events as Conquest, Independence, and Revolution, but also to such long-term processes as state formation, rural-urban migration, industrialization, national identity, and changing gender roles. The historical roots of problems such as persistent poverty, racism, and political repression will be examined. The lectures and readings will emphasize both the continuity of the historical development of Latin America as well as the differences between diverse epochs and cultures. Our concentration will be on the political, socio-economic, and cultural life of the region throughout the past six centuries. Lectures will analyze the historical forces at work in a chronological order and focus on a variety of themes from race, class, gender, and the region’s relationship to its more powerful neighbors to the north.