Course Description. This course is an introductory survey of Colonial Latin American history. The time period covered will range from a brief survey of major pre-Columbian Indian civilizations to years preceding independence for most Latin American nations (early 1800s). Several important topical areas will be introduced and developed through the course including: conquest, assimilation and resistance, the economic, political, and cultural foundations of colonialism, slavery, religion and syncretism, and gender relations.
Attendance and Participation. Prompt and regular attendance is expected from every student. Participation is integral to your success in this course. Participation by all students also ensures a learning environment that is challenging and meaningful. Participation/attendance also represents a significant proportion of your grade and will be judged in terms of its quality rather than quantity. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF ARRIVING LATE. IT IS DISRUPTIVE.
Late Papers, Missed Exams etc. All assigned work is due at the beginning of class on the due date. No late reading responses will be accepted. Late essays and other work will automatically be marked down one grade. Students then have 2 class periods to get the paper turned in. Missed quizzes receive a zero. Excused absences at exam time will be allowed a make-up exam. No incompletes for the course will be given.
Examinations and Quizzes. There will be two examinations. Both exams will combine objective and essay questions. Pop-quizzes may be given at the instructor’s discretion. Therefore it is important to keep up on the reading assignments for the course.
Essay. There will be one 4-5 page essay due after the viewing of the movie. Film Essay Assignment
Reading Summaries. Students must turn in 10 (one page, single-spaced) reading summaries during the semester. These summaries must be typed and double-spaced with name, page numbers, and TITLE (not Reading Summary #1 etc. but a title that reflects the reading’s content, theme, or your reaction to it). In these short papers, students will evaluate the key arguments, contributions, and/or weaknesses of that day’s reading, stressing those aspects most pertinent for classroom discussion and debate. The critical reviews are to be based on the assigned materials for a particular day (or internet readings on web ct), and are to be handed in prior to classroom discussion. Reading summaries will only be accepted at the beginning of the class in hard copy. No emailed assignments please!
Event Summaries. Students will attend two Latin America-related events either on or off campus and write a one-page reaction paper. One of these may be a Latin American movie, pre-approved by the professor. The Latin American Studies website is a good source for events: Latin American Studies
Grading. Grades on essays will be based on the following criteria: 1) use of relevant class material (evidence); 2) expression of ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging prose (style); and 3) development of an argument or point of view that is pertinent to the issue at hand and has breadth, coherence, and insight (interpretation).
A – excellent in all three areas. Offers an insightful
argument based on solid, ample evidence
B – good. Strong in all three areas or notable strengths
in one balanced by weaknesses in another
C – average. Adequate performance in one or more areas
offset by serious weakness in others that
leaves presentation
fragmented, unclear, or narrow
D – poor. Notable problems in all three areas. Remedial
work need to improve substantive
understanding
or basic communication
F – unacceptable. Serious flaws in all three areas. No
evident engagement in assignment.
Class Participation. The format of this course is lecture and discussion. This course requires regular and quality participation by all students. This means that students are advised to come to class prepared by reading the assignment for the day and ready to discuss the reading and or themes of the day from a critical and analytical perspective. Coming to class regularly is not enough to earn a good participation grade – you must actively and verbally participate! Attendance is also expected of every student.
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully demonstrating his/her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate the educational opportunity.
Required Texts:
Inga Clendinnen, Ambivalent
Conquests: Maya and Spaniard in Yucatan, 1517-1570.
Jonathan C. Brown, Latin America:
A Social History of the Colonial Period, 2nd edition.
Johnson and Lipsett-Rivera, Faces
of Honor: Sex, Shame, and Violence in Colonial
Latin America
Additional internet based readings
and documents on web ct and linked in syllabus.
Course Requirements:
(Be advised that quizzes could be administered at any time. They will add
to the total points below)
Map Quiz
10
Midterm Exam
100
Reading Responses
100 (10)
Essay
100
Final Exam
100
Event Summaries
20 (2)
Participation/Att.
50
Total
480
Daily Schedule:
8/23 Tues: Introduction to the themes and expectations of the course
The Pre-Conquest Americas
8/25 Thur: The Maya
The Inca Empire and the Andean Peoples
Chapter 1-2 Brown; begin reading Clendinnen
8/30 Tues: The Mexica/Aztec Empire
continue Clendinnen;
Exploration, Encounters, and Conquest
9/6 Tues: Spain and Portugal prior to American contact
Faces of Honor, Intro, Chapter 1;
Map Quiz
9/6 Tues: Explorations and European Views of the New World
Columbus'
Letter on the New World
9/8 Thur: The Conquest of Mexico
Chapter 3-Brown;
Aztec
Account of the Conquest Cortes
Describes Aztec Sacrifice An
Aztec Lament
The
Enigma of Aztec Sacrifice
9/13 Tues: The Conquest of Peru
Faces of Honor, Introduction and Chapter
1;
9/15 Thur: The Columbian Exchange; discuss Clendinnen;
“The Columbian Exchange” (web ct)
The
Columbian Exchange
The Imposition of Colonialism: Authority, Rule, and Labor
9/20 Tues: Labor Systems: Encomienda, Repartimiento, Mita
Chapter 4-Brown
9/22 Thur: NO CLASS. PROFESSOR AT CONFERENCE
Chapter 5-Brown
9/27 Tues: The Colonial Economy: Mining and Haciendas
Chapter 9-Brown
9/29 Thur: The Indian Question: Las Casas and Sepulveda
Chapter 6-Brown; The
Legacy of Bartolome de Las Casas
10/4 Tues: The Atlantic World and Slavery in Latin America
Chapter 7-Brown; The
African Slave Trade Atlantic
Slave Trade Images
The Church, Evangelization, and Society
10/6 Thur: The Catholic Church in Latin America
Chapter 10-Brown
10/11 Tues: Women, Church, and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Faces of Honor, Chapter 2; Sor
Juana Ines de la Cruz
10/13 Thur: Evangelization and Syncretism in Latin America
Faces of Honor, Chapter 3
10/18 Tues: The Inquistion: Bigamy, Witchcraft,
and Heresy
Faces of Honor, Chapter 4
10/20 Thur: Documentary – from The Buried Mirror series
10/25 Tues: Midterm Exam
10/27 Thur: Hispanic Patriarchy & Gender Relations
Faces of Honor, Chapter 5; Las
Siete Partidas
11/1 Tues: Sex, Shame, and Violence; discussion
Faces of Honor, Chapter 6 and 8
11/3 Thur: Another View: Portuguese America
Brown-Chapter 12
11/8 Tues: Film: “The Last Supper”
11/10 Thur: Film continued
Conflicts at the Local and Global Levels
11/8 Tues: Rebellion in the Andes
Chapter 11-Brown
11/17 Thur: Traders and Pirates
film essay due
Race, Class, and Society in the Late Colonial Period
11/22 Tues: Bourbon Reforms
Chapter 14-Brown
11/29 Tues: Remaking Race: Casta Painting of the 18th
century; discussion
Chapter 15-Brown; Casta
Paintings (18th Century Mexico)
12/1 Thur: The Haitian Revolution and Its Impact
on Latin America
Chapter 13-Brown; The
Haitian Revolution
12/6 Tues: Late Colonial Revolts: From Andean Revolts to Independence
12/7 Wed: Dead Day
12/12 Mon: Final Exam 10-12