11:45a - 1p Daily        BH241

This course offers an introduction to Latin America: its geography,
heritage, and the historical transformations of the region from pre-
Columbian civilizations to colonies and nations.

We begin with an overview of the history of Latin America. This
overview will provide us with the conceptual "hangers" that we can
use for all of our future, more detailed, studies of Latin American
history.  Next, we examine the cultures of Iberia around the time of
the conquest and the cultures of Latin America prior to the arrival
of the conquerors and missionaries.  From there, we consider
specific aspects of the conquest, including physical, religious,
economic, and cultural aspects of colonization efforts. All the
while, we contemplate the myriad ways that the indigenous of the
Americas deflected, appropriated, and resisted outside domination.
We conclude by examining the independence movements that
(temporarily) ended colonial rule in Latin America.

To better understand the social worlds of colonial Latin America, we
will read, discuss, and write about the three major themes of this
course: conquest, colonization, and independence.  Our readings will
be balanced roughly equally between analyzing primary source
documents and critiquing interpretative accounts written by
contemporary historians. We will also view and interpret films
dealing with select topics of this course.

Above course carries Cultural Studies credit.

Above course open to Undergraduates only.