COLONIAL LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY (163)
Professor P.F. Klaren
Fall, 2006
Office Phillips 313
Tel: 994-6233
e-mail: klaren@gwu.edu
Office Hours:
T/TH 2-3
M 4-5 or
by appt.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Historical analysis of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the New World from
the 16th to the early 19th centuries.
This preriod in Western history
represents the world=s first experience with globalization. As such Spain in
America warrants close examination since it may cast light into the current
process of globalization. The emphasis or theme of the course will also be on
examining the Latin American colonial experience in terms of the origins and
problem of Latin American underdevelopment which, of course, suggests an
unfortunate outcome.
Attention therefore will focus on the "feudal" Iberian
and Indian background, the impact of the conquest, the evolution of the land
tenure and labor systems, the formation of the class-caste social hierarchy,
the nature of the state, the role of religion and the Church, and the evolution
of the mining and mercantilist export economy.
The course will mainly
spotlight Spanish America, with some attention on the Portuguese experience in
Brazil.
It will conclude with a brief analysis of the movements for
independence in the early 19th century. Class lectures and discussions will be
supplemented with occasional videos, guest lectures, student debates, student
oral reports and possibly a museum field trip.
REQUIRED READINGS
Martin, C. & M. Wasserman Latin America & Its People (Pearson, Longman, 2005)
Socolow, S.M., The Women of Colonial Latin America (Cambridge, 2000)
Leon-Portilla, M., Broken Spears (Beacon, 1992)
Restall, Mathew, Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest (Oxford, 2004)
Fernandez-Armesto. F., The Americas: A Hemispheric History (Modern Library,
2003)
OPTIONAL
Klaren, Peter F, Peru: Society & Nationhood in the Andes (Oxford, 2000)
Fuentes, Carlos, The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World
(Houghton, Mifflin, 1992)
Ribeiro, Darcy, The Brazilian People: the Formation and Meaning of Brazil
(U.Florida Press, 2000)
Diamond, Jared, Guns, Germs & Steel (Norton, 1999)
Katzew, Ilona, Casta Painting: Images of Race in 18th Century Mexico (Yale,
2
2004)
Lynch, John, Simon Bolivar: a Life (Yale, 2006)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the standard MIDTERM (1/3) (October 12th) AND FINAL
EXAMINATION(S) (1/3), students will be expected to write a 12 page COMMENTARY
(1/3) on Socolow, Leon Portilla and Fernandez-Armesto. The commentary shall be
typewritten or processed, double spaced and page numbered and will be due in
class on Nov 16.
Students may get extra credit for each additional outside
book (selected from the bibliography in the various texts and approved by the
instructor) that they read and write a 3-4 page report, beginning with
Diamond=s Guns, Germs & Steel
Student Responsibilities: Students who fail to notify the instructor prior to
missing an exam or paper due date, for whatever reason, will be subject to a
penalty on the final grade.
Medical or other official excuses must be
documented by a physcian or other source acceptable to the instructor.
In addition students are required to adhere to the following class code of
conduct:
*abide by the university rules against plagiarism and cheating
*come to class on time, not late
*refrain from eating or drinking during class
*turn off all cell phones, MP3 or other electronic devices while in class
*refrain from talking during lectures
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS & ASSIGNMENTS BY WEEKS (subject to change)
Week
1
Date
Sept 5-7
Topic/Assignment
Introduction/Video: The Burried
Virgin & the Bull (VRC 564, pt.1)
Mirror:
The
Assignment: M&W, ch 1; ch 2, 58-66
2
Sept12-14
Iberian
Background
Video:
Columbus
&
the Age of Discovery (VRC 534, pt. 1)
Assignment: Socolow, 1; M&W, ch 2, 35-57, ch 3
70-75; FA, ch 1
3
Sept 19-21
Video:
Pre
Colombian
Civilization Incas/AztecsAConquest of the Gods@
Peru/Mexico)[VRC
564
pt.2]/AND
Incas (VRC 816)
3
Assignment: Socolow, 2; Restall, 1-3; M&W, ch 3,
76-85
4
Sept 26-28
Victors
Speak:
Video: Guns, Germs & Steel, #2
Myths
of
the
(student panel-discussion)
Assignment: Restall, 4-7;
Leon-Portilla (1st half)
5
Oct 3-5
Encomienda, Demographic
Humanitarian Debate
Conquest/The
Conquest
M&W,
Disaster
ch,
&
3,
The
85;
Great
Assignment: M&W ch 3, 86-94; Socolow 5; LeonPortilla (finish)
6
Oct. 10-12*
Video: The Columbian Exchange (VRC 534, pt6/
MIDTERM
EXAM
Assignment:M&W,chs4-5;
Socolow 6
7
Oct 17-19
Mechanisms of Domination and Resistence:
Negotiation and Agency/Open date
Assignment: M&W, chs 4-5; Socolow, 6
8
Oct 24-26
Video: The Age of Gold & Silver/Dynamization
of the Internal Economy
Assignment: M&W, 4; Socolow, 8; FA, ch 2
9
Oct 31-Nov 2
Church, State & Society: Concept of Hegemony
Assignment: M&W, 5 Socolow, 7
10
Nov 7-9
17th Century Drift & Internal Growth
Assignment: M&W, ch 6; FA, ch 3
11
Nov 14-16
Colonial Brazil/Slavery & Race (Prof. Cottrol,
Law School)
4
Assignment: M&W, ch 3,4,6 (on Brazil); Socolow,
finish
12
Nov 21-23
Film: "The Mission"
Assignment: M&W, ch 5 152-157/ *Commentary due
13
Nov 28-30
18th
Century
Reform,
Rebellion/THANKSGIVING BREAK
Assignment: M&W, ch 7
14
Dec 5-7
Independence/Video: The Buried
Mirror: The Price of Freedom
Assignment: M&W, ch 8; FA ch 4
15
FINAL EXAMINATION
OPEN
TBA
Revival
5
6