History of Societies and Cultures in Latin America 4206-AH11

Although the notion of Latin America appears as late as 19th Century, the historical survey given during the lecture will start with development of pre-Columbian civilizations and their later fate resulting from European discovery and conquest. Next we will emphasize the colonial period and its importance for Latin American states.Further lectures will be devoted to the efforts of independent Latin American states to find their place in the globalized world. In this context we will consider main trends and problems in the scale of the whole continent as well as selected processes in some chosen Latin American states.

Subjects of lectures:

I. Introduction
1. America-Latin America: more than just terminology.
2. The beginning of Latin American history.
3. History of Latin America and its connection to universal history.

II-III. Pre-Columbian America
1. Sources in pre-Columbian history.
2. The coming of man to the American continent.
3. Periodization of pre-Columbian history.
4. Cultural and civilization zones.
5. Central America: its major cultural accomplishments.
6. Socio-political structure of the Aztec state.
7. The Andes : major cultural accomplishments.
8. Socio-political structure of the Inca state.

IV-V. Discovery and conquest (1492-middle 16th Century)
1. Iberian Peninsula in the eve of the discovery of America.
2. Columbus' journeys.
3. The treaty of Tordesillas.
4. The meaning of the discovery of America for the Old World.
5. The origins of the name "America".
6. The conquest of the American continent by Castile: Caribbean, Tierra Firme, Mexico, Peru.
7. Discovery and conquest of Brazil.
8. The role of other European states in the conquest of the continent.

VI-VII The colonial era (middle 16th Century - the end of the 18th Century)
1. Spanish America: introduction of vice-kings government.
2. Metropolitan authorities.
3. Administratrion of the colonies: economy, society, culture.
4. Political and economical reforms of the Bourbon dynasty kings.
5. The Catholic church : social and cultural functions in Spanish-American colonies.

VIII Independence movement (the end of 18th Century - 1825).
1. The independence movement in Spanish America : periodization.
2. Tupac Amaru II uprising.
3. Precursors and liberators: Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin.
4.The independence of Haiti.
5. The emergence of the Empire of Brazil.

IX-X. The shaping of independent Latin American states (1825-1870)
1. The attempst at the integration of newly liberated countries (United Provinces of Central America, Great Colombia, Peru-Bolivia Confederation).
2. The phenomenon of caudillismo (Antonio de Santa Ana, Juan Manuel de Rosas, José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia).
3. Economy and society of the independent republics in the 19th Century.
4. Liberals and conservatives.
5. The government of Benito Juarez.
6. The Mexican Empire (1863-1867).
7. The end of slavery.
8. Wars and changing borders (the Texas War, the Paraguay War).
9. Spain's recognition of the independence of Latin American states.

XI Stabilization and dependent development of Latin America (1870-1910)
1. Oligarchic republics.
2. The government of Porfirio Diaz.
3. Wars and border changes (Saltpeter War).
4. The independence of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
5. The independence of Panama.

XII. The crisis of dependent development Structural crisis in Latin America (1910-1959).
1 Latin America in the beginnings of the 20th Century. New social forces: workers and middle class.
2. The Mexican revolution.
3. The movement towards the university reform.
4. The Great Crisis of 1929 in the Latin American context.
5. Nationalism and populism.

XIII. Fears and hopes of the Cold War (1959-1989)
1. Particularity of the Cold War in Latin American context.
2. Military regimes.
3. External debt: its political and social dimension.
4. Guerrillas and civil wars.
5. "Involved" artists.

XIV Globalization and neoliberalism in the Latin American periphery (after 1989)
1. Democratization processes.
2. Political and cultural aspects of regional integration.
3. The building of civil society.