York
College of Pennsylvania
Dept.
of History/Political Science
Fall
2002
Course: History of Latin America I (H227)
Credits: 3 credits
Course
Description and Objectives:
Most
students arrive in Latin American history classes at York College with only a
hazy knowledge of the lands South of the Border. Most view these strange lands as places of riots, revolution,
romantic chaos and men on horseback.
The primary objective of this course is to deepen the understanding of
the people with whom we share this hemisphere.
A secondary purpose is to convey the realization that Latin America is
of itself a fascinating area to study and that this examination can take a
lifetime.
The
study of the cultural heritage, which shaped Latin America, with its
similarities to and differences from that of North America can help to broaden
the students' appreciation of other people and cultures. As knowledge and understanding increases and
the complexities of the unique life of Latin America unfold in the study, the
critical judgment of the individual becomes more acute and the easy responses
born from simplistic preconceptions become unacceptable. It is important for students to understand
that differences among people indicate neither inferiority nor superiority, but
the unique human response to historical-environmental preconditions and the key
to the uniqueness of the Latin American response lies in its cultural past.
Course
Methodology:
While history at this level is by its very nature primarily descriptive, the
instructor broadens that approach to make it also analytical. As stated in the previous paragraph, as the
students knowledge and understanding increases in the course the student is
expected to arrive at a deeper level of understanding.
Writing
Standards:
Students enrolled in this course are expected to use literate and effective
English in their speech and in their writing.
All papers submitted must be well-written; grades on written work
(including examinations) will be based on expression as well as on
content. Students may be required to
rewrite papers which are marred by errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or
organization.
Academic
Dishonesty:
In those cases where your instructor observes academic dishonesty, the
student(s) so concerned will receive a grade of “F” or “O” for the course and a
brief written report will be forwarded to the Academic Dean. A copy of this report along with a statement
of the consequences of such behavior will be sent to the student(s) concerned.
Textbook: Colonial Latin America, Mark A. Burkholder and Lyman
L. Johnson, Oxford University Press, N.Y.
4th edition
A
Word About Your Textbook: The
Burkholder/Johnson textbook is a fascinating book about Colonial Latin
America. It is a concise yet
comprehensive study of both the Spanish and
H227 Page
2
Portuguese
colonies in the New World. This textbook
analyzes demographic change, labor systems, the colonial
economies and trade, while featuring a unique study of society, family,
and daily life in the region. In
addition, a special section provides a thorough treatment of the final century
of colonial rule, and a concluding chapter discusses independence, the colonial
legacy, and the myriad problems that faced the new nations. Each chapter contains suggestions for
further reading and the glossary of terms on pp. 336-339 should prove
helpful. (For an interesting exercise
run down the list and see if you have ever heard of these words - then do the
same thing at the end of the course).
Instructor: Robert H. Terry, Ph.D., Professor of
International Relations
B.S.
Mansfield State, M.Ed. Shippensburg State
M.A.
American University, Ph.D. American University
Also:
Inter-American Un. (Mexico), University of Chile
Office
and Hours:
Life Sciences Bldg. 334. Office hours
will be announced at the first class and posted during the first week of
classes. Other hours are available by
appointment.
Telephone: 815-1307.
E-mail/answering
service:
Your instructor can be contacted via e-mail by using rterry@ycp.edu. If you wish to leave a message on the
telephone answering machine do the following: let it ring at least 5 times or
until the recorded kicks in. Leave your
message by speaking slowly and clearly.
If you are leaving a phone number be specific and clear. Messages will be retrieved and answered as
soon as possible.
Examinations
and Grading:
Two major examinations will be given during the semester (a mid-term and a
final). Each examination counts 25% and
the final exam may be comprehensive. A
research project will be required of all.
This will count 25%. Quizzes,
class reports and participation will count 25%.
Class
Attendance Policy: York College maintains a very liberal
attendance policy. Experience teaches
that very few students are capable of attending class infrequently and still
obtaining satisfactory grades - most cannot. Since participation is asked for and
expected, it seems logical that if you are absent, you cannot participate. Beginning with the third absence, your
grade will be affected. Make-up
work will be allowed for understandable absences such as illness and death in
the family. When possible,
arrangements for makeup work should be made in advance.
Course
Outline
An
Overview: Latin American History, as presented at York
College, is divided into a two-semester course. Each semester is a separate package that taken together will
provide the student with a very comprehensive historical view of Latin
America. The Burkholder/Johnson book
will provide the basic outline for the course with other readings filling in
all the holes one might not already know.
H227 Page
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Part
I - The Background
A.
America PreColombian
Burkholder p. 3 etc
B. Spain
- Portugal
Burkholder - p. 23
Part
II Exploration and Conquest
Burkholder - p. 42-78
A.
Mexico
B. Peru
C. The
Rest
Part
III - Ruling the New World: Church
and State
A. The
State
Burkholder - p. 79-91
B. The
Church
Burkholder - p. 92-106
Part
IV - Population and Labor
Burkholder – p. 107-134
Part
V Production, Exchange and Defense
Burkholder - Chap. 134-170
Mining
- Sugar - Trade - Defense
Part
VI Living In An Empire
Burkholder – p. 171-247
A. Class Structure
B. Urban vs Rural
C. Society
D. Culture
Part
VII Imperial Expansion and Reforms
Burkholder – p. 248
Part
VIII Colonial Brazil
Burkholder – p. 258-270
Part
IX Crisis - Collapse -
Independence
Burkholder – p. 304-339
H227 Page
4
Bibliography:
1. Burkholder/Johnson
provide an excellent bibliography at the end of each chapter. Plus they make an excellent statement about
source material on page 334.
York College has made a major commitment to
becoming part of the “information highway.”
Learn
your way around the Internet as soon as
possible. We will attempt to share a
list of valuable Websites related to this class throughout the semester.
The following are suggestions to help you with this class.
Latin America and the Internet
There is much on the Internet about Latin America. Like everything else maybe there is too much information for you to handle. Try the following for starters. My two favorite sites are:
1. New Mexico State
University Library (http://lib.nmsu.edu/subject/bord). This is the site for the Internet Resources
for Latin America.
There are major web directories for Latin
America such as BIOS: Border
Information and Outreach Service (hppt://www.zianet.com/ircl/bios/ and selected
Latin American collections in U.S. libraries.
For example: Latin American
Library Tulane Un. (http://www.tulane.edu/%7Elatinlib/lalhome.html)
or University of New Mexico (www.unm.edu/~libibero/.
2. The second site that I
favor is Latin America Network Center (LANIC) from the University of
Texas. (hppt://www.lanic.utexas.edu). The great thing about this site is that it
goes country by country and you can go subject by subject.
Good Search Engines:
Alta vista, http://www.altavista.com/
Excite, http://www.excite.com
Hot bed, http://www.hotbed.com
Northernlight, http://www.northernlight.com
Have fun with your study of Latin America
this semester. Life is short. Make the most of it. Everyday is a gift from God. Use it wisely.
This
syllabus is subject to revision by the instructor.