Andean History (HIST 390)
Ama Killa, Ama Llulla, Ama Shua
(“Don’t be lazy, don’t lie, don’t steal”)
| Spring 2016, Truman State University MC209, MWF 2:30-3:20 Office: MC 227 |
Marc Becker |
Description
This course presents a cultural and political history of the Andean region of South America. We will examine unique historical developments in this part of the world. The themes we will analyze include the influence of geography on early Andean civilizations, the cultural impact of conquest, land and labor systems, popular resistance movements, revolutions, military governments, neoliberalism, and the politicization of ethnic identities.
This course meets the Intercultural Perspectives requirement of the Liberal Studies Program. As such, it will provide you with a greater knowledge and appreciation of cultural diversity through the study of encounters of Indigenous, European, and African worlds in the Andean region. Hopefully this course will make you more aware of how culture has been used for political and social ends, including confronting racial discrimination, economic exploitation, and social injustice.
Requirements
Our goal in this class is to challenge existing assumptions, engage alternative viewpoints, and encourage critical thinking. Through the study of history, we seek to empower ourselves to be better citizens, and to provide ourselves with the skills necessary to play a positive and educated role in society. We need to be active constituents rather than mere recipients of our education. To accomplish those tasks, we should strive to create an open and supportive learning environment. Regular attendance and active participation are also necessary. Please drop me a note if you are unable to attend, or if you have any concerns or suggestions for improving the class.
Readings
The following are the required books for this class. Read the assignments before class so that you are prepared to carry on an intelligent discussion of the material in class. Lectures and discussions will complement the readings and assume the base level of knowledge that they present, so it is critically important that you keep up with the readings.
Henderson, Peter V. N. The Course of Andean History. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2013. ISBN: 9780826353368
Honigsbaum, Mark. Valverde's Gold: In search of the last great Inca treasure. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004. ISBN: 978-0312425180
Whitaker, Robert. The Mapmaker's Wife: A true tale of love, murder, and survival in the Amazon. New York: Basic Books, 2004. ISBN: 0738208086
Icaza, Jorge. Huasipungo: The Villagers, a Novel. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press, 1964. ISBN: 0-8093-0653-0
Assignments and grades
Course grades will be based on the following assignments. You can check your grade progress on the class Blackboard web page (there is a total of 1000 possible points in the class). Assignments are due at the beginning of class, and I do not accept “drop and run” papers. Grades on late assignments will be penalized 10 percent for each day that they are late. Successful completion of all assignments is required to receive credit for this class.
Assignment Points
Response papers (12 x 13 pts ea) 150 pts
Book reviews (3 x 50 pts ea) 150
Secondary source analysis (Feb 15) 100
Primary source analysis (Feb 29) 100
Research paper (April 29) 200
Final exam 200
Participation 100
Response papers: Prepare a one-page written response to each week’s readings from Henderson’s textbook. The essays are due at the last class meeting of each week’s readings, and must be typed, double-spaced, and include citations.
Book reviews: Write a three-page review of each of the three supplementary readings.
Research paper: Each student is required to write a research paper on a topic related to Andean history. The paper must be 10 to 15 pages long, be typed, double spaced, and include page numbers, citations and a bibliography. The format should follow Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. You must use a minimum of six scholarly sources (books and journal articles) and one primary source. This project will be developed in a series of stages. Keep each of these assignments in a portfolio or folder, and hand in the entire portfolio with each subsequent assignment. Meeting all of these deadlines is a requirement to receive credit for the research paper.
Jan 25: Research paper proposal, including a paragraph describing your project, the research questions you seek to address with the project, a hypothesis of what you expect to find (the thesis statement of your research paper), and a preliminary bibliography of sources that you plan to use.
Feb 15: Analyze one of the major secondary sources you will use in the writing of your research paper. This paper should be typed, double-spaced, and about 3 pages long, and include citations a bibliography, and page numbers.
Feb 29: Select a primary sources related to your research topic from the microfilm collection (http://library.truman.edu/microforms/subject_list.htm#Latin%20American%20History). Try to find something that relates as closely as possible to your research topic. Have me approve the source, and then write a paper (typed, double-spaced, about 3 pages, citations, bibliography, page numbers) analyzing the document and its historical perspective. Attach a copy of the document to the essay.
March 30: Oral presentations. In your presentation, tell us what questions you addressed in your research project, what you expected to find (your thesis), a summary of your actual findings, and your conclusions.
April 11: Peer review of research papers. Bring a draft of your research paper to exchange with another student. Read and comment on the other student’s paper and return by the next class period.
April 29: Final research papers due. When handing in your final draft, please be sure to include copies of all of the previous assignments including the peer-reviewed draft.
Participation: The participation grade is not based on attendance (although this is expected and required), but on an active engagement with classroom discussions. The hope is that all of us will be richly rewarded with an active engagement with the material and concepts.
Final exam: The final exam is comprehensive and cumulative (200 pts).
Class Schedule
Week 1 (Jan 11/13/15) Hunter-Gatherers
Read: Henderson, ch. 1
Week 2 (Jan 20/22) Pre-Inkas
Read: Henderson, ch. 2
Week 3 (Jan 25/27/29) Inkas
Read: Henderson, ch. 3
Assignment: Research paper proposal (due Mon, Jan 25)
Week 4 (Feb 1/3/5) Conquests
Read: Henderson, ch. 4
Week 5 (Feb 8/10/12) Valverde's Gold
Read: Honigsbaum
Week 6 (Feb 15/17/19) Colonialism
Read: Henderson, ch. 5-7
Assignment: Secondary source analysis (due Mon, Feb 15)
Week 7 (Feb 22/24/26) Mapmaker's Wife
Read: Whitaker
Week 8 (Feb 29, March 2/4) Independence
Read: Henderson, chs. 8-9
Assignment: Primary source analysis (due Mon, Feb 29)
Week 9 (March 14/16/18) Liberals and Conservatives
Read: Henderson, chs. 10-12
Week 10 (March 21) Race, Class, Gender
Read: Henderson, chs. 13-14
Week 11 (March 30, April 1) Indigenismo
Read: Henderson, chs. 15-16
Assignment: Oral presentations (March 30)
Week 12 (April 4/6/8) Huasipungos
Read: Icaza
Week 13 (April 11/13/15) Revolutions
Read: Henderson, ch. 17
Assignment: Peer review (due Mon, April 11)
Week 14 (April 18/20/22) 1980s
Read: Henderson, ch. 18
Week 15 (April 25/27/29) Indigenous movements
Read: Henderson, chs. 19-20
Assignment: Research paper (due Fri, April 29)
Final Exam: Thursday, May 5, 1:30-3:20