Modern Latin America
HIST 365
Scarboro
Last Supper with Guinea Pig from the Cusco Cathedral, 1669
Office: Hafey-Marian Hall 312
E-mail: cristoferscarboro@kings.edu
Phone: 208-5900 ext. 5637 (o)
735-4762 (h)
Class Schedule: M/W/F 9:00-9:50 (Mc 311)
Office Hours: M/W 12:00-3:00 / T/Th 11:00-3:00
Sharepoint: https://sharepoint.kings.edu/sites/HIST365/default.aspx
I. Description:
This class centers on Latin American interaction with and transformation of notions of modernity. The conquest of the hemisphere by European empires in the 15th century unleashed a cascade of revolutions in the economic, cultural and political worlds and worldviews of both colonizers and colonized. In this class we will investigate how these transformations resolved themselves in colonialism and its resistance; the growth of nationalism; negotiations about the “good society” in the newly emerging “nation-states” of Latin America; the creation and costs of economic modernization; and the region’s role in the Cold War.
This course will ask the student to make sense of Latin America, its creation, enforcement, and transformation as a historical and geographical phenomenon. He or she is to become familiar with the major cultural, social, political and economic trends of the Latin American epoch and to be able to interpret them in historical context. Among the objectives for this class are that the student become familiar with and be able to analyze the mechanics of colonialism as a modern and modernizing ideology within its political, economic and cultural contexts. Students will engage in the history of Latin America from a wide range of genres, historiographic traditions and methodologies in order to gage how the modern transformations of Latin America played out. Central to the course is the principle that in taking the class the student will become familiar with historical methodology and thinking. He or she should be able to locate, evaluate and interpret historical sources and place them in context. The course’s paper will ask the student to critically engage and evaluate primary and secondary sources and present analyses of them in clear and persuasive writing. These everyday tools of the historian will serve the student well in any field he or she chooses to enter.
B. General Learning Outcomes for the Student:
In addition to the more content-related objectives described above, this course has some general liberal-learning goals of developing academic skills. It is expected that successful completion of this course will help you improve your ability to: manage information, which involves sorting data, ranking data for significance, synthesizing facts, concepts and principles; to understand and use organizing principles or key concepts against which miscellaneous data can be evaluated; to frame questions so as to more clearly clarify a problem topic or issue; to compare and contrast the relative merits of opposing arguments and interpretations, moving between the main points of each position; to organize your thoughts and communicate them clearly and concisely in written form; to obtain practice in selecting and presenting information and arguments within a restricted environment, especially the limitations of time in exams
Bowden, Mark, Killing Pablo: the Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw, Penguin, 2002
Koeppel, Dan, Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World, Plume, 2007
García-Márquez, Gabriel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006
Williamson, Edwin, The Penguin History of Latin America, Penguin 1993
B. Course Films
Herzog, Werner, Fitzcarraldo, Anchor Bay, 1982
Kazan, Elia, Viva Zapata, Twentieth Century Fox, 1952
Salles, Walter, Motorcycle Diares, Universal, 2004
F. Written Assignments:
This class has three required written assignments: a research paper, a film or book review and a series of microthemes.
Research Paper
On the first day of class you will chose two other people with whom you will be working closely together both in preparing for your paper and in preparing and presenting your final group project. Your first paper topic will be closely coordinated with the other two members of your group as part of a larger theme that will link all three of your papers and the larger group project. As a group you will meet with me on January 28th to chose your topics and lay the foundation for the rest of the semester’s group work. Your individual papers will all contribute to the final project so you should be sure to closely collaborate with your peers.
You will turn in four copies of your paper (one for me and each of your group mates) on April 6th. The draft should be at least 8 pages. The final draft is due April 17th.
Film or Book Review
Your second writing assignment is a film or book review. You review which should be 2-3 pages is to interpret one of the texts from this class. You are to place the film or book in historical context, analyze and interpret its message and meaning. This review will be due in class at any time before April 29th.
Microthemes
Three times during this semester you will be responsible for writing a 1-2 page microtheme on the assigned primary source material covered during that time. These microthemes are intended to allow you the opportunity to analyze and write about these sources historically and should consist of two parts: first, you should summarize the argument of the sources—you should ask and elucidate what the author, director or artist was trying to say. Second, you should place the piece and argument within the larger context of the time and place. What historical themes and trends is the artist or author tapping into? How does it relate to larger issues in the class? How are we to make sense of the work historically?
Due Dates for Microthemes:
Feb 9th
March 9th
March 19th
G. Final Group Presentation
You will chose your final group project in your first meeting with me on (***) and will be working on it in some fashion the entire semester. Your papers will all deal with some aspect of the project and give you the foundation for the final in class presentation to be held the last meetings of the class. Your project will be allotted for 20-25 minutes with a question and answer session to follow. You project should be multi-media and can include power-point images, music and video clips. Like your paper your final Project will take place in several steps:
1) On January 28th the group will meet with me to plan the final preparations work for the group project.
2) On April 8th the group will present a written plan prospectus for the final project including detailed outlines of the topics covered and responsibilities designated to each group member.
3) Your final group presentation will be between April 20-29th. After the presentation you will be required to turn in a letter grade for each of your group-mates’ work on the project. This grade will factor into the final grade of each member for his/her work on the project.
H. Exams:
This class will also require a midterm take-home examination to be turned in on February March 16th and a final examination to be held during finals week. You will make up the questions for the examinations: you will need to turn in the questions for the midterm on March 9th and for the final exam at the end of the semester on April 27th.
G. Leading Class Discussion and Participation
As well as providing you with the methodological and analytical tools for engaging in historical thinking, this class will ask you to actively take part in a larger conversation of historical issues within the class. I expect this class to allow us to delve deeply into the historical topics of each week’s readings. To that end you need to make sure that you arrive to class on time ready to discuss the weekly readings, having carefully read and thought over the material. You must take an active role in the class discussions. Thus a portion of your grade will depend on your in-class performance and presence.
In a class of this nature it goes without saying that a classroom environment in which everyone feels comfortable is essential. You should treat your fellow classmates with respect, listen carefully to their comments and respond to them in a polite manner.
H. Grading:
It is your responsibility to understand why you have achieved a certain grade, and what steps you can take to maintain or improve your grade. You should consult with the instructor during office hours or by appointment before and after exams and written assignments.
For your protection, in case of errors in record keeping, you should keep copies of all exams and assignments until you have received official notice of your final grade.
Your final grade will be based on the following percentages
|
100-95 |
A |
|
94-92 |
A- |
|
91-85 |
B+ |
|
88-85 |
B |
|
84-83 |
B- |
|
82-80 |
C+ |
|
79-77 |
C |
|
78-75 |
C- |
|
74-70 |
D |
|
69< |
F |
Your grade distribution for class assignments is as follows:
|
Midterm |
15% |
|
Final Exam |
15% |
|
Paper |
20% |
|
Group Project |
15% |
|
Microthemes |
15% |
|
Class Participation |
20% |
I. Academic Integrity:
The Department of History adheres to guidelines on academic integrity outlined in the Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook:
http://www.kings.edu/student_handbook/studentregulations_rights/conductcode.htm
Cheating and plagiarism will be penalized in accord with the penalties and procedures indicated in that source. All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the definition of these infractions of academic honesty.
J. Absences:
I will regularly take attendance in this class. Absences due to college activities, emergency or extended illness may be excused by the appropriate college official. You should consult with the professor about making up missed work in advance or as soon as possible after your return. Other absences are unexcused and will lower the class participation portion of your grade. After any absence, you are responsible for requesting hand-outs and already returned assignments from me or borrowing notes from other students. If you miss an exam, contact me as possible. You may take a missed exam only at the discretion of the instructor.
K. Dissabilities:
King’s College and I will make every effort to accommodate students with a bona-fide disability that impacts on their ability to learn the course material. Please meet with me privately so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help in the learning process.
IV. Course Schedule
I. Colonialism and Modernity
Introduction: Colonialism and Modernity
Monday, January 12th
Modernity as a Discourse
Wednesday, January 14th
Colonialism as a Discourse
Friday, January 16th
*Primary Source Reading: Bartolome de las Casas, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies <http://web.archive.org/web/19980116133031/http://pluto.clinch.edu/history/wciv2/civ2ref/casas.htm>
Pre-Colonial Latin America, Part I
Monday, January 19th
*Reading: Williamson, “Discovery and Conquest,” 1-36
*Primary Source Readings: Images from the Conquest of Mexico
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/bgcholula2.htm>
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/bfestival.htm>
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/bsorrows.htm>
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/bfight.htm>
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/ballies.htm>
<http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/bbrigs.htm>
Pre-Colonial Latin America, Part II
Wednesday, January 21st
*Reading: Williamson, “Iberians and Indians,” 37-76
*Primary Source Reading: Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Hernán Cortés, “The Spaniards Entry into Tenochtitlán (Handout)
Conquest of the Aztecs
Friday, January 23rd
*Primary Source Reading: Nancy Fitch, “La Malinche: Indian Princess or Spanish Whore?” <http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/malinche.html>
Conquest of the Aztecs, Part II (Dicussion)
Monday, January 26th
*Primary Source Reading, The Story of the Conquest as Told by the Anonymous Authors of Tlatelolco (Handout)
*Primary Source Reading, Mexica Account of the Cholula Massacre <http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/aztec7.html>
*Primary Source Reading, Spaniards Attack Cholula http://www.historians.org/Tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/Diaz11.htm
*Discussant(s):
Snow Day
Wednesday, January 28th
Class Meetings in Preparation for Group Presentations
Friday, January 30th
Class Meetings in Preparation for Group Presentations
Monday, February 2nd
Conquest of the Inca
Wednesday, February 4th
*Primary Source Reading: Pedro de Cieza de Léon, Chronicles of the Incas, 1540 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1540cieza.html>
Colonialism and the Nation-State, Part I (Spain)
Friday, February 6th
*Reading: Williamson, “Spain in America,” 77-115
Colonial Latin America
Monday, February 9th
*Reading: Christina Johanna Olson, Casta Paintings and Depictions of Race in Colonial Mexico <http://hemi.ps.tsoa.nyu.edu/archive/studentwork/colony/olson/Casta1.htm>
*Reading: Williamson, “The Spanish Indes,” 116-166
*Primary Source Reading: Colonial Lima according to Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa <http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=113>
***First Microtheme Due***
II. Colonialism, Modernity and the Nation-State
Haitian Revolution
Wednesday, February 11th
Colonialism and the Nation-State, Part II (the Americas)
Friday February 13th
*Reading: Williamson, "Reform Crisis and Independence," 195-232
*Primary Source Reading: Simón de Bolívar, “Message to the Congress of Angostura,” 1819 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1819Bolivar.html>
Constructing the State, Part I, Caudillos
Monday, February 16th
*Reading: Williamson, "The Quest for Order: Liberals and Conservatives in the Nineteenth Century" 233-284
Constructing the State, Part II: Argentina and Modernity
Wednesday, February 18th
Constructing the State, Part III: Brazil and Slavery
Friday, February 20th
*Reading: Williamson, "Colonial Brazil," 167-194
Constructing the State, Part IV: The Porfiriata
Monday, February 23rd
The Porfiriata
Wednesday, February 25th
*Reading: Beezley, Judas at the Jockey Club
*Discussant(s):
Constructing the State, Part V: Chaco War
Friday, February 27th
*Reading: Williamson, "Nationalism and Development: An Overview," 313-377
Modernity Colonialism and Madness
Monday, March 9th
*Film: Herzog, Fitzcaraldo
*Discussant(s):
***Second Microtheme Due***
III. Revolución!?
Mexican Revolution
Wednesday, March 11th
*Reading: Williamson, "Mexico: Revolution and Stability," 378-409
***Midterm Questions Due***
Zapata
Friday, March 13th
*Film: Kazan, Viva Zapata!
*Discussant(s):
America and Latin America in the Interwar Years: Sandino
Monday, March 16th
***Questions for the Midterm Due***
Motorcycle Diaries
Wednesday, March 18th
*Film: Salles, Motorcycle Diaries
*Discussant(s):
***Third Microtheme Due***
Visions of the Modern: Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Friday, March 20th
*Sharepoint: Kahlo and Rivera
IV. Cold War
Cold War: Honduras
Monday, March 23rd
***Midterm Due***
Cold War: Banana Republics
Wednesday, March 25th
*Reading: Koeppel, Banana
*Discussant(s):
Cold War: Cuban Revolution
Friday, March 27th
*Reading: Williamson, "Cuba: Dependency, Nationalism and Revolution," 436-458
*Primary Source Reading: Fidel Castro, “On The Export of Revolution,” <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/castro-revolution.html>
Brazil, Brasilia and Modernity
Monday, March 30th
*Reading: Williamson, "Brazil: Order and Progress," 410-435
Cold War: Dirty War
Wednesday, April 1st
*Readings: "Argentina: The Long Decline," 459-484
Cold War: Contras and Sandinistas
Friday, April 3rd
Narco-states
Monday, April 6th
*Reading: Bowden, Killing Pablo
*Discussant(s):
***Rough Draft Due***
Magical Realism and Latin American History
Wednesday, April 8th
*Reading: García-Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
***Plan Prospectus for Group Projects Due in class***
Post Cold War Latin America
Wednesday, April 15th
*Reading: Williamson, "Indentity and Modernity: Cultural Developments II," 511-566
No class in Preparation for Group Presentation
Friday, April 17th
***Final Draft of Paper Due***
Group Presentation
Monday, April 20th
Group Presentations
Wednesday, April 22nd
Group Presentations
Friday, April 24th
Group Presentations
Monday, April 27th
***Questions Due for the Final Exam***
Group Presentations
Wednesday, April 29th