Synopses & Reviews
This best selling text for introductory Latin American history courses mixes a chronological and a national approach to explore the background of this fascinating region. The text' s integrating framework is the dependency theory, which stresses the economic relationship between Latin American nations and wealthier nations, particularly the United States.
The book provides in-depth coverage of society and culture in Latin America and their impact on population, settlement, trade, communication, and economic and political developments.
Synopsis
A best seller for the introductory Latin American history course, this text presents an account of pre-historical times to the present through its integrated framework of the dependency theory. The authors emphasize the economic relationship between Latin American nations and wealthier nations, particularly the United States. A chronological approach allows students to keep track of events and comprehend their significance. The text's availability in two versions (i.e. comprehensive and chronological) suits varying curricula.
About the Author
Benjamin Keen (PhD, Yale University) was professor Emeritus from Northern Illinois University. He was a leading scholar in the field of Latin American history, particularly the colonial period in Mexico. Although retired from active teaching for some years, Keen continued to research, write, and lecture until his death in late 2002.Keith Haynes (PhD 1981 Northern Illinois University) is Professor of History at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, where he has taught Latin American and U.S. diplomatic history for more than 20 years.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Geographical Background of Latin American History I. The Colonial Heritage of Latin America 1. Ancient America Environment and Culture in Ancient America The Maya of Central America The Aztecs of Mexico The Incas of Peru 2. The Hispanic Background Spain's Medieval Heritage The Spain of Ferdinand and Isabella The Hapsburg Era: Triumph and Tragedy 3. The Conquest of America The Great Voyages The Conquest of Mexico The Conquest of Peru How a Handful of Spaniards Won Two Empires The Quest for El Dorado 4. The Economic Foundations of Colonial Life Tribute and Labor in the Spanish Colonies The Colonial Economy Commerce, Smuggling, and Piracy 5. State, Church, and Society Political Institutions of the Spanish Empire The Church in the Indies The Structure of Class and Caste 6. Colonial Brazil The Beginning of Colonial Brazil Government and Church Masters and Slaves 7. The Bourbon Reforms and Spanish America Reform and Recovery Colonial Culture and the Enlightenment Creole Nationalism Colonial Society in Transition, 1750-1810: An Overview The Revolt of the Masses 8. The Independence of Latin America Background of the Wars of Independence The Liberation of South America Mexico's Road to Independence Latin American Independence: A Reckoning II. Latin America in the Nineteenth Century 9. Dictators and Revolutions The Fruits of Independence Mexico Argentina Chile Brazil Peru Cuba United Provinces of Central America Gran Colombia 10. The Triumph of Neocolonialism The New Colonialism Mexican Politics and Economy Argentine Politics and Economy Chilean Politics and Economy Brazilian Politics and Economy Peruvian Politics and Economy Central American Politics and Economy Venezuelan Politics and Economy Colombian Politics and Economy 11. Society and Culture in the Nineteenth Century How New Was the New Society? The Passing of the Society of Castes The Process of Modernization The Romantic Revolt Literature and Social Change, 1880-1910 The Romantic Revolt Continued: Ecuador and Peru III. Latin America Since 1900 12. The Mexican Revolution--and After The Great Revolution, 1910-1920 Reconstructing the State: Rule of the Millionaire Socialists C?rdenas and the Populist Interlude The Big Bourgeoisie in Power, 1940-1976: Erosion of Reform Deconstructing the State: Neoliberalism and the Second Conquest of Mexico, 1977-2003 13. Argentina: The Failure of Democracy The Export Economy Argentine Society The Radical Era, 1916-1930 The "Infamous Decade," 1930-1943: The Conservative Restoration The Peron Era, 1943-1955 The Shadow of Peron, 1955-1973 Military Dictatorship, 1974-1983 Return to Democracy and the Death of Peronismo 14. The Chilean Way Foreign Dependency and the Parliamentary Republic, 1891-1920 Alessandri and the Rise of Populism, 1920-1970 The Chilean Road to Socialism, 1970-1973 Neoliberalism and Democratic Constraints, 1973-2003 15. Republican Brazil Decline and Fall of the Old Republic, 1914-1930 Vargas and the Bourgeois Revolution, 1930-1954 Reform and Reaction, 1954-1964 Brazil's "Colonial Fascism" The Transition to Democracy, 1983-2003: "The New Republic" 16. Storm over the Andes: The Struggle for Land and Development Three Andean Revolutions Neocolonial Peru: The English and North American Connections, 1883-1968 The Rise and Fall of the Peruvian Revolution, 1968-2003 17. The Cuban Revolution Independence and the Spanish-Cuban-American War Dependent Development and Popular Struggle, 1902-1953 The Revolution: The Odyssey of Fidel Castro The Revolution in Power: 1959-2003 18. Revolution and Counterrevolution in Central America: Twilight of the Tyrants? Guatemala Nicaragua El Salvador 19. Lands of Bolivar: Venezuela and Colombia in the Twentieth Century Venezuela in the Early Twentieth Century, 1908-1958 Venezuela's Representative Democracy, 1958-2003 Colombia in the Twentieth Century 20. The Two Americas: United States-Latin American Relations U.S. Policy Objectives Prelude to Empire, 1810-1897 An Imperial Power, 1898-1945 Defending the Empire and Capitalism, 1945-1981 The Return to "Gunboat Diplomacy," 1981-2003 Toward a New World Order? 21. Latin American Society in Transition Economic Problems: A Permanent Latin American Crisis? Social Problems The New Class Structure Attitudes and Mentalities: Change and Resistance to Change The Flowering of Latin American Culture Glossary Suggestions for Further Reading Index