DESCRIPTION:

            This is a one-term introductory survey of Latin American history intended to provide a general overview of the evolution of Latin American civilization. As such it covers an enormous breadth of time and space – too enormous to cover without a focus on a handful of significant themes.

Those key themes to be developed in this course include:

 A. The Impact of Geography. More attention than normal will be devoted to the geography of Latin America and especially to its ramifications:

1. demographic differentiation;

2. developmental limitations; and

3. political conflicts.

  B. The power of the past in shaping contemporary situations.

1. The conflict of cultures. This will be treated a being as essential part of Latin American history since the conflict between Cortes and Moctezuma. Across time, this theme will be explored in the context of Indian-white and black-white relations. Particular attention will be devoted to the particular definition of race found in Latin America and the effects of the use of 'social race'.

2. The cultural effects of conflict. The course will seek to demonstrate the cultural vitality which has emerged from the clash of cultures. Examples will include the use of music(especially Brazilian and Argentine), literature (Chile), and film. The thrust of this treatment will be the examination of a culture which draws on various traditions, Western, Indian, and African, to produce a culture which is more than the sum of its parts.

3. The continuity of traditional institutions. This is examined through the conflict between continuity versus change will the treatment of key topics.

a. Social structure. Topics will include the role of entrenched elites, the late development of middle classes, and the difficulty of social mobility.

b. Political structure. The main theme will be the conflict between continuity, reform, or revolution and the difficulty of effecting change within the context of external international conflicts.

c. Religion. This will provide an explanation of the contemporary state of religion in Latin America: at one level, the conflict between Catholicism and socialism, spiritism and Protestantism and, at another level, the schism within the Catholic Church between traditionalists and those advocating liberation theology. The historical background of these conflicts will be a focus of examination.

d. The search for identity. Latin Americans have been involved in the process of constructing a useable identity since the independence period in the 1830s. The building blocks have included different races with different traditions and values, different ethnicities, and, ultimately, cultural forms constructed around class.

e. The search for the "Other." The course will focus explicitedly on critical analysis, especially on perspective. How do we place ourselves in the minds of others whether indigenous peoples fighting for survival or their 'oppressors?'

OBJECTIVES:

    A. To leave you with a familiarity with the dominant themes, events, and developments of Latin American history.

     B. To introduce you to Latin American culture and to leave you with an appreciation for a complex, powerfully vibrant and extremely diverse culture.

    C. To emphasize the relevancy of developments in the past to those of the contemporary world by showing how contemporary situations are often reflections of the past.

    D. To leave you with an understanding of critical historical issues such as causation and interpretation.

    E. To leave you with an understanding of the nature of history as a discipline as well as with some of the many methodological approaches used by historians.

    F. To permit you to work with primary sources in translation in order to better understand the work of the historian.

G. To encourage to develop the habit to look at issues from multiple perspectives.

It is also my hope that you will end up sharing my love of a dynamic culture and a hospitable and congenial people.

OFFICE HOURS:

OFFICE: Rhodes Tower 1637, Telephone: 687-3925

The easiest way to contact me is by e-mail: d.ramos@csuohio.edu I will try to respond within 24 hours.

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-12:45 and 2:15 to 4:00 pm; and by appointment. I urge you to find time to speak to me.

REQUIRED READINGS:

    My lectures are structured to parallel the readings without, hopefully, unduly repeating information contained in them. It is essential, therefore, that you attend the lectures and complete the required reading assignments. To the degree possible you will be examining works produced by Latin Americans whether its a novel, or photographs, music or documents as a means of getting closer to Latin culture and history.

Generally speaking my lectures will provide one or more theoretical and conceptual structures into which the readings can be placed. Both lectures and readings are needed to satisfactorily master the material.

 You will be asked to read the following works:

    * John Charles Chasteen. Born in Blood and Fire. 2nd ed. New York: W.W.Norton & Company, 2005.

    * Richard Boyer and Geoffrey Spurling (eds). Colonial lives : Documents on Latin American History, 1550-1850. New York : Oxford University Press, 2000.

    * Isabel Allende. The House of Spirits. any edition.

* Erick D. Langer with Elena Muñoz (eds). Contemporary Indigenous Movements in Latin America. Wilmington, Del.: SR Books, 2003.

Additional documents will be made available through the homepage for this course.

REQUIREMENTS:

      There will be no research paper. Requirements will be limited to exercises and essay quizzes on the readings and films, mid-term and final. Essay questions for the mid-term and final will be distributed approximately one week before the test 0r the tests may be take-homes..

  A. Assumptions and Expectations: Please read the Expectations statement and e-mail me your agreement to its terms prior to January 30. Failure to do so will result in the loss of 10 points. There are no exceptions to the deadline.. Click here.

B. There will be two types of quizzes. In class quizzes will not generally be announced and will cover the reading due that week. These quizzes will potentially be on Thursdays. These will be worth 10 pts. The second type will be take home quizzes also on the readings. These quizzes will be worth 20 pts. each. One of these quizzes will be a map quiz with items drawn from a list which will be posted on the course web-site.

C. There will be 2 mid-term examinations. Each will be worth 50 pts. The exact format will be discussed in class although at least a portion will be take-home in nature.

D. The Final Examination will be worth 50 pts and will be similar in format to the Mid-terms. One question will be broadly cumulative. The final is scheduled for May 6. 1:00 - 3:00

NOTE: Quizzes and the mid-term may be resubmitted (see below)for a maximum improvement of two letter grades with the maximum being a C. All re-written/re-thought work must be submitted within one week from the first day the papers are returned to the class and rethinks/rewrites must be accompanied by the original.

Make-up examinations will be available only with approved excuses.

EXTRA CREDIT: If you wish to earn extra credit, you may watch a film produced in Latin America (in either Spanish or Portuguese) and submit a maximum two-page review of the film. You may earn up to 10 points - equal to an in-class quiz..

ASSISTANCE

The History Tutoring Center provides help to students who need assistance in note taking, critical reading skills, exam preparation, basic research skills, and writing assignments.   Its hours are Monday and Wednesday 9:00-4:00, Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-6:00 and by appointment in RT 1913.  Stop in, call 216-687-3921, or email history.tutoring@csuohio.edu to contact Nate or Emily for more information. Should you decide to work with the Tutoring Center I am prepared to work with you concerning deadlines.
But remember that I am available to help either in my office or by e-mail.  

ATTENDANCE:

It is not my intention to take attendance. I assume that you enrolled in this class with the intention of learning. However, because being present is such an important aspect of the course, I reserve the right to impose such a policy after discussion with the class and proper notification in class and in the What's New section of this webpage.

HOLIDAYS

Spring Break: March 9-16

GRADING:

The distribution of points is as follows:

In-class Quizzes...10 points each

Quizzes...............20 points each

Mid-term............50 points

Final.................. 50 points

The mid-terms and 20 pt quizzes can be re-thought and re-submitted for a new grade. This is available to those whose grade is unsatisfactory - a D, F or No Grade. Grades can be improved to a maximum of a C. The re-think is due to me within one week of being returned to the class and must be accompanied by the original. There will be no exceptions.

NON-WESTERN CIVILIZATION:

This course can be used to fulfill Cleveland State’s General Education requirement for Non-Western Civilization. It can also be used as part of the History of the African Diaspora Certificate Program.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Questions or Comments: contact me at d.ramos@csuohio.edu