History of the Americas
Pre-Columbian Encounter to Independence
Class Syllabus

Week 1: Geography

• Influence on human mobility, economic production, social systems and settlement patterns.
• MAP QUIZ

Weeks 2-3: A Comparison of Pre-Columbian Native Societies

• An examination of sedentary, semi-sedentary, and non-sedentary populations.

Week 4: Spain and Portugal on the Eve of the Columbian Encounter

Weeks 5-6: The Columbian Encounter

• A look at Caribbean, Mexico and Central America (New Spain), and South America
• FIRST EXAMINATION

Weeks 7-8: Spanish America

• Political, economic, social, and cultural-religious aspects

Week 9: Brazil

• Settlement and colonization.
• Colonial life: political, economic, social aspects, and race relations.

Week 10: French Canada

• Development and expansion of New France
• Life in Quebec: socio-economic and political aspects.

Week 11: The Catholic Church in the Americas

• Comparison between New France, Spanish America, and Brazil
• Movie: "The Mission"

Week 12: The English-American Colonies

• Establishment of the Virginia Tidewater and New England settlements.
• Colonial life: political, economic, social, and cultural aspects.
• SECOND EXAMINATION

Week 13: French-English Struggle in North America: 1689-1763

• Impact of events in Europe.
• The Seven Years War and its aftermath.

Week 14: Road to Independence in English-America: 1763-1776

• Philosophical, political, economic, socio-cultural, and other causes.
• Impact of U.S. Revolution on Canada and Spanish America.

Week 15: Independence Movement in Latin America

• Effects of 18th century royal reforms, the Enlightenment, and racial and class antagonisms.

Week 16: Wars for Latin American Independence

• Struggles in Spanish America: Mexico, Peru, Gran Colombia, and La Plata.
• The special case of Brazil.

Week 17: Effects of Independence Struggles Compared

• Political, economic, social, and cultural aspects compared in the U.S., Brazil, and Spanish America.
• An "American" identity (?)

Week 18: Review

• The Americas at the dawn of 19th century.
• FINAL EXAMINATION