HIST 6481 - Topics in Latin American History

(crosslisted)
(also LATA 6481)

Spring. 4 credits.

R. Craib.

This course is a readings and research seminar on the history of Spanish America from roughly 1750 to 2000, with particular attention to the post-independence histories of peasants, urban workers, and intellectuals. Weekly readings will include a major monograph on Latin America and particular theme (idea of peasant community; gender and labor; immigration and the social question; rise of the middle classes; politics of memory; the Left, among others) plus additional theoretical articles from various disciplines and fields that complement or challenge authors’ conceptualizations of their material. As well as weekly participation and presentations, students will be expected to research and write a 25-30 page research paper based on primary sources. Reading knowledge of Spanish is helpful but not required.