The "discovery" by Christopher Columbus in 1492 of the "New World" unleashed a process of dramatic changes in what we now call Latin America. Spanning roughly from the fifteenth through the late-eighteenth centuries, this course examines the ideological underpinnings of the Spanish Conquest, the place of the Americas in a universal Spanish empire,  the role of urban centers, and the transformation of indigenous communities and culture in the consolidation of Spanish rule. Emphasis is placed on Indigenous narratives of their societies and the transformation and interactions with Africans and Europeans under colonial rule; the role of Indian labor and African slavery in the imperial economy; the creation, consolidation, and decline of colonial political institutions; and, finally, the role of religion and baroque ritual in the creation of new hybrid colonial cultures and identities.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 25

Prerequisites: None

Distribution Requirements: HS - Historical Studies

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

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