Spring 2010 LAH 2020 Sordo

Florida International University
Department of History
LAH 2020 – Latin American Civilization
Spring 2010
W-F 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM – Sections U01, U02, U03, & U08 – GL 100
Emma M. Sordo, PhD Office DM 391B
Phone 305 - 348-0179 Office Hours: WF 12:00-1:00 PM
E-mail: sordoe@fiu.edu and by Appointment
Teaching Assistants: Office DM 392 and DM 370
Joseph Holbrook - E-mail: jholb001@fiu.edu, josenmiami@yahoo.com – Section

U02 M 12:00-12:50 PM
PC 445; Section U03 M 1:00-1:50 PM – GC 271B
Office hours: M W 3:30 PM- 5:00 PM Phone: (786) 395-5402
Objectives: The general objective is to introduce students to the major themes in the
social, political, and cultural history of Latin America, from the late fifteenth to the
twentieth centuries. The course is intended to provide students with (1) an informed
notion of the region’s diverse historical and cultural heritage, and (2) essential
background for further coursework in the Latin American field at the university. Lectures
will complement assigned readings by discussing themes that are common to the region
as a whole and issues that distinguish the various national cultures and societies from one
another.
Readings: The course will be based on several texts, all of which are available for
purchase at the university bookstore; they can also be consulted at the reserve section of
the Green Library. Readings should be completed by the day for which they are
assigned.
Required:
Edwin Williamson, the Penguin History of Latin America. London: Penguin Books, 1992
[Williamson] ISBN 0-140-12559-0
Júnia Ferreira Furtado, Chica Da Silva: a Brazilian Slave of the Eighteenth Century.
New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009 [Furtado] ISBN 978-0-521-71155-5
William H. Beezley and Colin M. MacLachlan, Mexicans in Revolution, 1910-1946: An

Introduction. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2009 [Beezley &
MacLachlan] ISBN 978-0-8032-2447-6
Nicholas Fraser & Marysa Navarro, Evita: The Real Life of Eva Perón. New York: W.
W. Norton, 1996 [Fraser & Navarro] ISBN 0-393-31575-4
Recommended (Green Library, Reserve room)
Benjamin Keen and Peter Haynes, A History of Latin America [Keen & Haynes]
RB 287.00 Green Library Reserve
The course will occasionally also make use of shorter readings (articles or excerpts from
books) to be consulted at the reserve section of the library.
Other required readings (PDF documents) are:
Bartolomé Arzáns de Orsúa y Vela, Tales of Potosí. Providence, RI: Brown University,
1975 [Arzáns, Introduction, xi-xxxvi]
Populism article, The Economist – PDF
Students wishing to read more extensively on any of the topics covered in the course may
consult the optional suggested readings listed below or request additional titles from the
instructor. Handouts will also be provided during some of the sessions, and some
documentaries and films will be shown in class.
Grades and Assignments: The approximate reading load per week is of 125 pages.
Final grades will be based on three in-class essays, two take-home essay assignments,
quizzes, and a take-home final examination, all of which are intended to meet the
“Gordon Rule” requirement. The take-homes essays (typed and double-spaced) will be
written in response to questions provided by the instructor at least two weeks before the
particular assignment is due. These assignments must be handed in class on the day
they are due (January 25, February 5, February 24, March 26, April 2 and April
TBA); late papers will not be accepted.
Students will submit the assignments (Furtado, Beezley & MacLachlan, and Fraser
and Navarro) online to ‘turnitin.com’. Instructions for registration, Class ID #
3043272, Password: lah2020sp10. Consideration of work not handed in on the due
dates will be given ONLY if the student presents a written document (excuse) from a
physician, counselor, or sports team coach.
NO INTERNET SOURCES ARE PERMITTED FOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS.

NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY EMAILS.
Students will be required to complete a map exercise, instructions will be provided by the
instructor. Map Exercise is due on January 15. The assignment is worth 25 points, will
be added to quiz component of final grade. The instructor also reserves the right (which
she may or may not invoke) to administer small quizzes throughout the term. Students
should also be prepared for quizzes in the discussion sessions. Attendance: required in
discussion sessions. These quizzes are five (or ten) points each; students who are absent
on the day they are given will receive F’s. No make-up quizzes unless you provide a
documented excuse.
Final grades will be based as follows: assignments 1 and 2, 10% each, assignments
#3, 25%, #4, 5%, #5, 15%, quizzes and participation, 15%, and final assignment
20%. Students who participate actively and knowledgeably in class discussion will see
their final grades improved accordingly. Students who are unable to come to class on a
regular basis due to especial circumstances should see the instructor at the beginning of
the term to discuss such circumstances.
NEW AND VALUABLE RESOURCE for Undergraduates, “A Guide to Success in
History Courses,” click on the Undergraduate link, Department of History,
http://www.fiu.edu/~history/index.html
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Do turn off cellular phones when you are in class, no
text messages!!! If you are using a laptop during class, use front section of the room.
Please avoid at all costs coming in or walking out of the classroom in the middle of
lectures and discussions. This is most rude and disruptive.
Policy on Academic Misconduct provided by the “Office of the Provost,” read

carefully:
"Florida International University is a community dedicated to
generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and
research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community
service. All students should respect the right of others to have an
equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality
of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a
standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for
themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the
University. All students are deemed by the University to understand
that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will
be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Handbook."
For additional information on Academic Misconduct, refer to FIU site:

http://www.fiu.edu/provost/polman/sec2/sec2web2-44.htm
SCHEDULE
Week 1
January 4 Overview – Discussion groups - Objectives
Readings: Williamson, Preface vii-viii; Chapter 1, 3-16
January 6 Overview of Latin America – objectives

Readings: Williamson, 3-16
January 8 American Peoples – Discovery

Readings: Williamson, Chapter 2, 37-54
Week 2
January 11 Encounter/Conquest: Mainland
Readings: Williamson, Chapter 1, 16-31, 35-36
Suggested: K & H, Chapter 1, 5-3
January 13 Conquest Mainland

Readings: Williamson, Chapter 2, 75-76; Chapter 3, 77-91
January 15 Documentary – “Great Inca Rebellion” – National Geographic

Map and Geography Exercise Due
Week 3
January 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 20 Europeans – Iberian background

January 22 Spanish Settlements

Readings: Williamson, Chapter 2, 75-76, Chapter 3, 77-98
Week 4
January 25 Essay #1 – in class exercise
January 27 Building a Colonial society

Readings: Williamson, Chapter 3, 91-115; Chapter 4, 116-132, 134-147
January 29 Colonial Economy – Mining, Atlantic trade

Readings: Arzáns, Introduction, PDF document, xi-xxxvi
Williamson, Chapter 4, 116-132
Week 5
February 1 Colonial economy – mining - discussion
Readings: Arzáns, PDF document
Begin Furtado, Preface xvii-xxv, Introduction, 1-19
February 3 Colonial Brazil - Slavery

Readings: Furtado, Chapters 1-3, 20-102
February 5 Essay #2 – in class exercise
Week 6
February 8 Brazilian society - Patriarchy
February 10 Brazilian society


Suggested: K & H, Chapter 5, 115-117; Chapter 6, 118-124

Week 7
February 17 Discussion – Chica da Silva

Readings: Furtado, complete text
February 19 Bourbon Reforms

Suggested: K & H, Chapter 7, 131-143, 149-156
Week 8
February 22 Independence: Colonial collapse?
Readings: Williamson, 210-228
February 24 Aftermath of Independence

The legacy of colonialism
Documentary, “The Price of Freedom”
Readings: Williamson, 231-232, Chapter 7, 233-247
Essay #3 – Furtado assignment due
February 26 Building new nation-states

Regionalism; emergence of Caudillos
Week 9
March 1 Nineteenth century
Emergence of Caudillos
March 3 Nineteenth Century – Civilization and Barbarism

Readings: Williamson, Chapter 8, 290-293, 298-300, 302-310
March 5 Nationalism and development

Week 10
March 8 the Mexican Revolution
Beezley & MacLachlan, Introduction, Chapter 1, 1-46
March 10 Mexican revolution

Readings: Beezley & MacLachlan, Chapters 1-2, 1-77
March 12 Documentary, “The Hunt for Pancho Villa”

Readings: Beezley and MacLachlan, Chapters 3-4, 79-128
Week 11 Spring Break – March 15-20
Week 12
March 22 Mexican revolution - discussion
Readings: Beezley & MacLachlan, Chapters 3-4, 79-128

Readings: Beezley & MacLachlan, entire text

Essay #4 in class writing exercise –
Week 13
March 29 Mexican revolution - discussion
Readings: Beezley & MacLachlan text
March 31 Populism and dictators

Readings: Populism – PDF document, The Economist
April 2 Populism – Argentina, case study

Readings: Fraser & Navarro, 1-68
Essay # 5 Beezley & MacLachlan assignment due
Week 14
April 5 Populism
April 7 Documentary, “Evita: the Woman behind the Myth”

April 9 Populism
Week 15
April 12 Discussion
Populism and Dictators
April 14 Documentary, “Fidel Castro”
April 16 Final Review
Final Assignment – April TBA

Spring 2010 LAH 2020 Sordo

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Florida International University

Teaching Assistants: Office DM 392 and DM 370

Joseph Holbrook - E-mail: jholb001@fiu.edu, josenmiami@yahoo.com – Section

William H. Beezley and Colin M. MacLachlan, Mexicans in Revolution, 1910-1946: An

NO INTERNET SOURCES ARE PERMITTED FOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS.

Policy on Academic Misconduct provided by the “Office of the Provost,” read

For additional information on Academic Misconduct, refer to FIU site:

January 6 Overview of Latin America – objectives

January 8 American Peoples – Discovery

January 13 Conquest Mainland

January 15 Documentary – “Great Inca Rebellion” – National Geographic

January 20 Europeans – Iberian background

January 22 Spanish Settlements

January 27 Building a Colonial society

January 29 Colonial Economy – Mining, Atlantic trade

February 3 Colonial Brazil - Slavery

February 5 Essay #2 – in class exercise

February 10 Brazilian society

February 12 Brazilian society

Suggested: K & H, Chapter 5, 115-117; Chapter 6, 118-124

February 17 Discussion – Chica da Silva

February 19 Bourbon Reforms

February 24 Aftermath of Independence

Essay #3 – Furtado assignment due

February 26 Building new nation-states

March 3 Nineteenth Century – Civilization and Barbarism

March 5 Nationalism and development

March 10 Mexican revolution

March 12 Documentary, “The Hunt for Pancho Villa”

Week 11 Spring Break – March 15-20

March 24 Mexican revolution

March 26 Mexican revolution

March 31 Populism and dictators

April 2 Populism – Argentina, case study

Essay # 5 Beezley & MacLachlan assignment due

April 7 Documentary, “Evita: the Woman behind the Myth”

April 16 Final Review

Final Assignment – April TBA

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