HIST 131: History of Latin America to 1825

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2022
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: D1. History and Political Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

The course is a survey of Latin American history from pre-Columbian times to the independence of Latin American lands. Special emphasis is given to the institutions of the past which have shaped the conditions of the emerging states. Relations between Latin American nations and the United States will also be explored. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate quantitative knowledge of important historical patterns, processes, developments, figures and events.
  • Demonstrate an ability to evaluate primary source documents.
  • Demonstrate a comprehension and appreciation of the connections, contributions, and experiences of various regions, ethnicities, races and genders in the creation of colonial Latin America and independent Latin American states.
  • Demonstrate comprehension and analysis of the historiography of pre- and post- colonial Latin America.

Major Course Content

  1.  Geography of Latin America and the Indigenous Cultures of pre-Columbian Latin America
    1.  Major Geographical Features
    2. First Arrivals
    3. Mesoamerica
    4. Andean Region
    5. Other indigenous cultures
  2. The Iberian Experience
    1.  Re-conquest of Iberia
    2.  The Rebuilding of Iberia
  3.  Age of Discovery and Conquest
    1.  The Caribbean Experience
    2.  Significance of Myths and Legends
    3. The conquest of Mesoamerica
    4. The conquest of the Andean Region
    5. The Portuguese experience
    6. Continued Spanish and Portuguese penetrations
  4.  The Imposition of Iberian Rule
    1. Mixing of the races
    2. The establishment of Spanish government
    3. The establishment of Portuguese government
  5.  The Development of Colonial Economies
    1. Mining and agriculture in Spanish America
    2. Mining and agriculture in Portuguese America
    3.  Internal trade in Spanish and Portuguese America
    4. The Development of labor systems
  6. Colonial Society and Religion
    1. The role of women in society
    2. Demographic growth and decline
    3. The role of the church in society
  7. The Reorganization of Spanish and Portuguese America
    1. Spanish and Portuguese internal problems
    2. The Bourbon reforms
    3. The Pombalian reforms
    4. Creole and peninsular competition
    5. The Enlightenment era
  8. The Wars of Independence
    1. Causes of revolt
    2. Outside influence on independence
    3. Spanish American independence movements
    4. Brazilian independence

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

In addition to required readings:
Kicza, John, Resilient Cultures, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003. Mann, Charles, 1491, New York: Knopf, 2005 Armesto, Felipe Fernandez, Before Columbus: Exploration and Colonization in the Atlantic World, 1229-1492, 1987 Beezley, William and Colin MacLachlan, Latin America: the Peoples and their History, Thompson Wadsworth, 2007.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Students will write a 5-page course paper that addresses the themes and material raised by the course. Additionally, shorter papers are required for each of the supplemental texts to demonstrate comprehension of the main tenets of the work and how it relates to the overarching themes of the course.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Maps, Museum visits, Newspaper projects designed to familiarize students with the region, artifacts, and current research.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4F. History