Latin American Culture and Civilization

The engaging, readable style of Latin American Culture & Civilization fosters an interactive humanistic approach for the study of more than five centuries of Latin American history, culture, and civilisation. Richly illustrated with maps, colour images, and photos, including photos of rare images from antiquarian volumes, the historical content is expanded by and evolves through extensive use of original source materials, including travel writings, eye witness accounts, letters, essays, declassified government documents, excerpts from antiquarian texts, and newspaper and journal accounts. In addition to the numerous primary source materials from several centuries, many translated by the author and other experts, essays and excerpts from important 20th and 21st century figures are included.Discussion and research questions are designed to foster critical thinking skills and to enhance the reader's knowledge base. Discussion questions guide readers in the synthesis of historical content, in developing awareness of the connections of past events and conditions to the complexities of current Latin American challenges, and in reflections on issues of race, ethnicity, and identity resulting from the collision of European, indigenous, and African cultures.The publication includes online assessments (reading quizzes, mid-term & final exams, a map project), student resources, and a cooperative group project for use with significant Latin American literary works. The reading quizzes are designed to focus students' attention on key points in preparation for class lectures and discussions. The online assessment site and gradebook allow instructors more time for focus on delivery of classroom content.