HISTORY 0500

COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA

Spring Term 1998

M, W 11:00-11:50 1K56 Forbes Quad

Instructor: Reid Andrews

Office: 3P38 Forbes Quad Office Hours: M, W 12:30-1:30

Telephone: 648-7473 E-mail: reid1@vms.cis.pitt.edu

This course will examine the social, economic, and political development of Latin America during the period of Spanish and Portuguese rule. It is organized chronologically and focuses on several recurring themes. These include: how Africans, Amerindians, and Europeans came together to create multiracial societies; the role of religion in colonial life; the development of the colonial economies, and the accompanying decisions as to which groups and individuals would do what kinds of work, and how the fruits of that work would be distributed; and the relationship of the colonies to the international political and economic system.

READINGS

The course is based on three texts which are available for purchase at the Book Center and on reserve at Hillman Library. They are:

Mark Burkholder and Lyman Johnson, Colonial Latin America

John Parry and Robert Keith, New Iberian World

Bartolomé Arzáns, Tales of Potosí

GRADING

Final grades will be based 25 percent on four quizzes, to be held on unannounced dates in the discussion sections; 25 percent on three short (one page) writing assignments; and 50 percent on two exams: a midterm examination, scheduled for February 16; and a final examination, scheduled for April 24. In assigning final grades, the instructors will also give consideration to those students who participated actively and intelligently in discussion sections.

Students will be required to fill in and memorize a map of the region. This will be a pass/fail assignment; a failing grade on it will lower one's final grade by one notch (e.g., from an A- to a B+, or from a C+ to a C).

GETTING HELP

Should you experience any problems or difficulties in the course, don't ignore them; rather, get help in resolving those problems sooner rather than later. Professor Andrews and the TA for the course, Jorge Nallim, are both available to consult with you and answer questions during office hours, before and after class, at other appointed times, or by phone and e-mail. If any aspect of the course--readings, lectures, assignments, exams--is at all unclear, do not hesitate to contact us.

The University also provides other sources of assistance to students: the Writing Center (501 Cathedral of Learning, 624-6556); and the Learning Skills Center (311 William Pitt Union, 648-7920). Both provide tutoring and short courses in writing and study skills. If you feel that you have problems in these areas, contact the relevant center early in the term and enroll in their courses.

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

I. The Meeting of Two Worlds, 1492-1550

January 5 -- Introduction

January 7 -- Amerindians I

Reading: Burkholder and Johnson, 3-15.

January 9 -- Sections

January 12 -- Amerindians II

January 14 -- Europeans I

Reading: B&J, 16-24.

January 16 -- Sections

Reading: some new reading on Amerindians

January 19 -- Martin Luther King Day; no class

January 21 -- Europeans II

January 23 -- Sections

Reading: "Garcilaso [de la Vega] on the origins of the Incas," Parry and Keith, vol. 1, 134-39; "The Requirement," P&K, vol. 1, 288-90.

January 26 -- Discovery

Reading: B&J, 24-33

January 28 -- Film, Conquest of Paradise

January 30 -- Sections

Reading: Columbus's journal, P&K, vol. 2, 22-23, 29-33.

FIRST PAPER DUE

February 2 -- Conquest

Reading: B&J, 35-63.

February 4 -- Film, Conquest of Paradise

February 6 -- Sections

Reading: "Poma de Ayala on Cajamarca," P&K, vol. 4, 84-86.

February 9-11 -- American Holocaust

Reading: B&J, 63-67, 98-108.

February 13 -- Sections

Reading: "The Advent sermons of Fray Antonio Montesinos," P&K, vol. 2, 308-12.

February 16 -- MIDTERM EXAMINATION

II. Creating Colonial Societies, 1550-1750

February 18 -- How to Rule an Empire I

Reading: B&J, 70-96.

February 20 -- Sections

February 23-25 -- How to Rule an Empire II

February 27 -- Sections

Reading: Arzáns, Tales of Potosí, xi-xxxvi, 13-19, 51-55, 171- 75, 183-97.

SECOND PAPER DUE

March 2-6 -- Spring Recess; no classes

March 9-11 -- The Economics of Empire

Reading: B&J, 125-42, 151-60.

March 13 -- Sections

Reading: Arzáns, xi-xxxvi, 27-32, 137-41, 148-51, 176-82.

March 16-18 -- The Problem of Labor: Indians

Reading: B&J, 108-23.

March 20 -- Sections

Reading: "Poma de Ayala on Indians and corregidores," P&K, vol. 4, 326-28; "The Indian town council of Huejotzingo to the King," P&K, vol. 3, 470-73.

THIRD PAPER DUE

March 23-25 - The Problem of Labor: Africans

Reading: Film, The Last Supper

March 27 -- Sections

March 30-April 1 -- Organizing Colonial Society: The Caste Regime

Reading: B&J, 162-199.

April 3 -- Sections

April 6 -- Organizing Colonial Society: Gender

Reading: B&J, 200-08; Arzáns, 58-70, 116-26, 148-51--AND 87- 90? A TRICKY AND COMPLICATED TALE. OR 3-12?

III. Crisis and Collapse of the Iberian Empires, 1750-1825

April 8 -- Bourbon Reforms

Reading: B&J, 234-87.

April 10 -- Sections

April 13-15 -- American Responses: Independence

Reading: B&J, 290-332

April 17 -- Sections

April 24 -- FINAL EXAMINATION