Description
This course analyses the origins of the region we now call Latin America. In terms of chronological focus, we will look at (1) the Iberian exploration and conquest of the region, (2) the beginnings of colonial society, (3) the impact of slavery, (4) the transformation of the colonies in the 18th century, (5) and the initial phase of Independence. Thematically, we will be interested in the role of religion, the exercise of authority in multicultural societies, resistance to authority, and the peculiar economics and sociology of colonialism.
As a student in the course, you will be expected to participate actively in our class sessions. You are responsible for doing the reading ahead of class, preparing responses to the discussion questions, and bringing the reading to class. You should expect to contribute in every class session. When I say that you should bring the reading to class, I ask that you work from hardcopies of the reading. That means no laptops. So, unless you have an accomodation, do not use a laptop in class.
About the Instructor
Instructor: Mr. J. Pablo Silva (he/him/his)
Office Hours: For Now: Tuesday and Thursdays, 2 to 3:30
(and by appointment)
in Team Room HSSC A3240
Email: silvajp@grinnell.edu
Phone: (641) 269-4886
Learning Goals For the Course
Learning Related to Latin America.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
Explain the basic periodization of Colonial Latin American History
Explain how and why Iberian colonists were able to control large parts of the Americas
Describe the basic features of the societies that emerged
Skills Related to Historical Analysis.
By the end of the semester, you should have refined your ability to:
Examine primary sources critically and in context in order to use them to provide evidence for arguments
Identify how historical arguments are framed within an existing historiography
Analyze and comment on how historical arguments make use of evidence and make their case
Writing Skills.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
Create an argument in response to an historical debate
Structure an introduction for a longer paper
Assemble a longer paper out of shorter segments