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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ICSD038A
Course Title (CB02)
Colonial Latin American History
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course examines Colonial Latin America and its role in the Atlantic world (to 1825) including the independence movements. Themes in the course cover social, intellectual, and cultural developments, the impact of poverty, race and gender relations, and popular culture.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSU GE, and IGETC and is UC/CSU transferable. It belongs on the Intercultural Studies AA degree. It was developed to provide students with an overview of the Iberian European conquest and colonization of indigenous civilizations and the creation of the hybrid culture of the Americas.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Not open to students with credit in the cross-listed course(s).)

(Also listed as HIST D007A.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Guest speakers

Collaborative projects

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Assignments

  1. Reading:
    1. Suggested supplementary readings as primary and secondary sources such as journals, memoirs, newspapers, articles, magazines
    2. Critical reading of required texts
  2. Writing: Essay on historical interpretation where students demonstrate understanding of key concepts, theories, events and people from the readings and class discussion.
  3. Participation in both written and oral presentation through collaborative groups where individual contributions will be assessed for clarity and critical analysis

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Midterm essay examination to test for recognition, identification, interpretation, synthesis, and analysis of key concepts.
  2. Written final examination which require analysis, interpretation, and synthesis.
  3. Written essays focused on analyzing texts, reflective analysis and synthesis of ideas in historical topics.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Gonzalez, Juan. Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America. Penguin Books, 2011.
Galeano, Eduardo (. Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. Serpents Tail, 2009.
Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire: Latin American Voices. W.W. Norton and Company, 2018.
Fernandez-Armesto, Felipe. The Americas: A Hemispheric History. Reprint edition NY: Modern Library. 2006.
Batalla, Guillermo Bonfil, and Philip A. Dennis. México Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization. University of Texas Press, 1996.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Gibson, Charles. Spain in America, Harper-torchbooks, 1966.
Hill, Robert. Colonial Cakchiquels, Harcourt, 1991.
Hoberan, Louisa and Susan Socolow. Cities and Society in Colonial Latin America, New Mexico, 1986.
Keen, Benjamin. A History of Latin America, 5th edition: Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1991.
Keen, Benjamin. A History of Latin America, Vol. I: Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1996.
Keen, Benjamin. Latin American Civilization, Westview Press, Boulder, 1991.
Lockhart, James. Spanish Peru: 1532-1560. Wisconsin, 1968.
Lockhart, James and Stuart Schwartz. Early Latin America, Cambridge, 1983.
Otte, Enrique. Letters and People of the Spanish Indies, Cambridge, 1976.
Reis, Joao Jose. Slave Rebellion in Brazil, Johns Hopkins, 1993.
Salvucci, Richard J. Latin America and the World Economy, Heath, 1996.
Stein, Stanley. The Colonial Heritage of Latin America, Princeton, 1975.
Soustelle, Jacques. Daily Life of the Aztecs, Stanford, 1961.
Woodward, Ralph Lee. Central America. Oxford, 1985.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Analyze, judge, and synthesize historical evidence
  • Describe and assess the influence of the diverse geography of Latin America.
  • Examine, evaluate, and interpret the nature and development of relationships and institutions between the Latin American environment and Indigenous cultures, and the environmental impacts on Indigenous organization and culture.(Teotihuacan, Toltec, Maya, Aztec, Tupi, Arawak, Carib, Inca)
  • Compare the effects of European contact on different geographical regions and different Indian groups, and the European perception of nature and culture.
  • Evaluate the validity of traditional interpretations of the European conquest.
  • Identify and examine the consequences of mestizaje (mixed races) in Colonial society.
  • Describe, evaluate and analyze the legacy of racial stratification in the development of social, economic and political structures of colonialism.
  • Explain the development of African slavery in North and South America. (Sugar, cotton, urban slaves)
  • Compare and contrast the factors leading to the Latin American independence movements. (Brazil, Argentina, Latin America, Peru)
  • Appraise, summarize, and assess the roles and influence of gender over time in Latin America
  • Evaluate the role of religion on conquest and syncretism

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate and apply a critical assessment, interpretation and understanding of Colonial Latin American history from the 1400s until the 1820s to construct defensible statements of meaning and evaluation about this period's developments.

  • Analyze and interpret the significance of the term mestizaje as it pertains to the creating of the culture and society of Colonial Latin America.

Outline

  1. Analyze, judge, and synthesize historical evidence
    1. Defining historical evidence such as:
      1. Primary sources
      2. Secondary sources
    2. Theoretical frameworks used in analyzing historical processes and events
      1. Objectivity, perspective and critque of Eurocentrism and bias
      2. Interpretation and critical reflection
      3. Validity and impact
    3. Introduction of methodologies and assumptions that characterize the discipline of history
  2. Describe and assess the influence of the diverse geography of Latin America.
    1. Identifying, comparing, and appraising various disciplinary approaches to the study of relationships between the Latin American environment, Indigenous cultures and European cultures.
    2. The study of Indigenous cultures prior to European Conquest in various disciplines (e.g., anthropology, sociology, economics and literature) along with a non-western cultural perspective.
    3. Geography of Western Hemisphere and impact on Indigenous cultures
      1. Tierra Caliente (Tropical lowlands)
      2. Tierra Fria (highlands)
      3. Tierra Templada (Mild climate)
  3. Examine, evaluate, and interpret the nature and development of relationships and institutions between the Latin American environment and Indigenous cultures, and the environmental impacts on Indigenous organization and culture.(Teotihuacan, Toltec, Maya, Aztec, Tupi, Arawak, Carib, Inca)
    1. Sedentary cultures (Aztec, Maya, Inca)
    2. Semi-sedentary cultures (Iroquois, Tupi, Arawak)
    3. Nomadic (Chichimec, Quilmes)
    4. Consciousness (Worldviews and symbols)
    5. Gender relationships (economic and social)
  4. Compare the effects of European contact on different geographical regions and different Indian groups, and the European perception of nature and culture.
    1. Colonial organization (encomienda, repartiimiento, slavery, transatlantic processing and exchange; gender roles)
    2. Fueros (trade forts)
    3. Latifundias, plantations, estancias, haciendas
  5. Evaluate the validity of traditional interpretations of the European conquest.
    1. Historiography of the European conquest
      1. Black Legend
      2. White Legend
      3. Grey Legend
      4. Indigenous Consciousness (resistance, genocide)
    2. Role of epidemics and geography in conquest
      1. smallpox
      2. yellow fever
      3. influenza
  6. Identify and examine the consequences of mestizaje (mixed races) in Colonial society.
    1. Consequences and legacy of Mestizaje
      1. Perceptions of race
      2. Miscegenation - casta (social mobility, gender roles, cultural exchange)
      3. Slavery
      4. Consciousness of race (Role of Church, mestizaje, Cedulas de Sangre)
    2. Circumventation of color barriers (cedula de gracias al sacar)
  7. Describe, evaluate and analyze the legacy of racial stratification in the development of social, economic and political structures of colonialism.
    1. Economic production (encomienda, hacienda, estancia, village)
    2. Social organization (Alcalde Mayor, Cacique, Kuraka, Viceroy)
    3. Political organization (Audiencia, Indian courts, New Laws)
  8. Explain the development of African slavery in North and South America. (Sugar, cotton, urban slaves)
    1. Perceptions of Africa culture (reconquista, Islam, convivencia)
    2. Economic production (Brazil, sugar, Safra, Dutch trade)
    3. Maroon societies
    4. Consciousness (worldview, religion, music)
  9. Compare and contrast the factors leading to the Latin American independence movements. (Brazil, Argentina, Latin America, Peru)
    1. European precursors
      1. War Of Spanish Succession
      2. Napoleon Bonaparte
      3. Enlightenment
      4. Political response
    2. Colonial Reforms (Bourbons, Pombaline)
      1. Social conflict (Revolts, Tupac Amaru)
      2. Criollo Consciousness (Americanism, Enlightenment , the role of the Jesuits)
      3. Urban/Rural social development
  10. Appraise, summarize, and assess the roles and influence of gender over time in Latin America
    1. Native American roles and influences
      1. Pre colonial adoption of social and cultural practices
      2. European colonial reorganization of gender roles
      3. Development of male dominated society
    2. Gender roles and influences
      1. Fostering of mestizaje
      2. Female dominated production in domestic and urban issues
      3. Indigenous and Spanish female differences
      4. Victimization of female - derecho de pernada
  11. Evaluate the role of religion on conquest and syncretism
    1. Mexica religion and spirituality (Quetzalcoatl, Tonantzin, Huitzilopochtli)
    2. Incan religion and spirituality (huacas, Coricancha, Sapa Inca, pantheism)
    3. Roman Christian Catholic beliefs (regular and secular orders, apostolic twelve, triad of conquest, role of doctrinas, patronato real, missions)
    4. Virgin of Guadalupe, Marian devotion, Baroque art, nationalism
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