HIS255 Latin American History
This course examines the history of Latin America - which includes South America, Mexico and Central America, and the Caribbean region - from pre-Columbian to current times. Topics include the indigenous civilizations, Spanish and Portuguese conquest and colonization, revolution and the rise of regional nation-states, political and socioeconomic development, the United States' role in hemispheric affairs, the region's transition from dictatorship to democracy, and the emergence of contemporary Latin America as an important player in global trade and diplomacy.