Latin America since Independence: Two Centuries of Continuity and Change

by Thomas C. Wright

This innovative text offers a clear and concise introduction to Latin America since independence. Thomas C. Wright traces continuity and change in five central colonial authoritarian governance; a rigid social hierarchy based on race, color, and gender; the powerful Roman Catholic Church; economic dependency; and the large landed estate. He shows that the outcomes of debate and contestation over these colonial legacies have been crucial in shaping contemporary political systems, economies, societies, and religious institutions in a richly diverse region. These unifying themes guide the reader through each period. The text’s user-friendly illustrations, maps, chapter summaries, and suggestions for further reading enrich student understanding of a major part of the world.

Genres: History

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2017

Reviews

[Ashton Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting overview of Latin America and the continuity and change over the last 200 years. I enjoyed getting to read it over such a long time because I got to marinate in the ideas the authors presented.

[MiddlyOrange · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introduction to Latin American history, this book is fantastic. Thomas C. Wright's writing is accessible to a general audience, well-researched, and nicely threaded from the times of the Spanish colonization to the present day.