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Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean
Stunning in its sweep, Americas is the most authoritative history available of contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean. From Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and from Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago, Americas examines the historical, demographic, political, social, cultural, religious, and economic trends in the region. For this new edition Peter Winn has provided a new preface and made revisions throughout to include the most up-to-date information on changes and developments in Latin America since the last revised edition of 1999.
720 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2005
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About the author
Peter Winn
21 books12 followersPeter Winn is a professor of history at Tufts University specialising in Latin America. He has written several books, including Americas, which he developed while serving as academic director for the 1993 PBS series of the same name.
Winn earned a BA from Columbia College in 1962 and a PhD from Cambridge University in 1972.
Winn earned a BA from Columbia College in 1962 and a PhD from Cambridge University in 1972.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 9, 2016
_Americas_ by Peter Winn is a massive (600 page) overview of Latin America and the Caribbean, a good introduction to the region for those unfamiliar with it. While a bit dry at times, it is nonetheless informative and interesting.
The first chapter introduces the region to the reader and provides a few interesting facts. The author noted for instance that the region is far from Spanish-speaking only; while over 300 million (in 1992) speak Spanish, there are 150 million Portuguese speakers, English, Dutch, and French is also spoken in the Caribbean and northeastern South America, as well as five major indigenous languages or language groups (Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, by over one million people, over 2 million speakers of the various Mayan languages, 8 million speakers of Quechua, the language of the Incas, half a million speakers of the highland language of the Aymara, and large numbers of Guarani speakers in Paraguay).
The second chapter discusses the legacy of colonial times, focusing particularly on the legacy of Spain's New World empire. Much of the region was shaped by Spain's division of the region under viceroys and "mini-viceroys" (which provided the territorial basis of most of today's republics), its people's intermarriage with people of different races (which they called castas and are today called mestizo - mixed Amerindian and European - and mulatto - mixed African and European), the Church's coming to terms with indigenous religions (as a "social safety valve and an as an aid to conversion," producing a complex layering of beliefs), and (along with the Portuguese in Brazil), the planting of labor-intensive crops like sugar that required the importation of African slaves.
Chapters three and four focus on the history of Argentina, covering the development of Argentine estancias (ranches) and its booming beef export business, the evolution of Buenos Aires (more Italian than Argentine for many years, styled as the "Paris of South America," and later shaped by internal migrations from the Andean provinces), and the rise and fall of Juan Domingo and Evita Peron.
Chapter five deals with the history of Brazil, grappling with Brazilian notions of grandeza (greatness, a sense of optimism about the country's future), the good and bad legacies of the economic "miracle" since 1960, the development of the "bureaucratic authoritarian regime" (a type of military government later emulated in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay), and its huge disparities of wealth (in 1974 it had more unequal income distribution than India).
The sixth chapter discusses the issue of internal migration in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since World War II over one hundred million people have moved within the region to seek their fortunes elsewhere, a migration largely of rural people to their nation's cities, often forming huge squatter settlements (favelas in Brazil, villas miserias or "towns of misery" in Argentina) and enlarging capital cities (30 million Mexicans for instance migrated to Mexico City, making it the largest metropolitan area in the world).
Chapter seven looks at the status of Amerindians in the region today, particularly in the four nations that contain the great majority of them (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Guatemala).
The eighth chapter looks at blacks today in the area. As in the previous chapter, issues of formal discrimination and social prejudice are discussed, with non-whites either trying to "pass" to join their country's creole and mestizo elites, or instead reaffirm and revitalize their heritage, all part of a "complex color consciousness" in the region, something not seen in the United States. The author compared and contrasted issues of African heritage in two nations on one island (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and also looked at Brazil and Trinidad.
Chapter nine examines the role and history of women, examining their political roles in Chile in detail.
Chapter ten looks at the development and role of the Catholic Church as well as competing religions. Though more Catholics live in Latin America and the Caribbean than anywhere else (3 out of 5) and Brazil has the world's largest national church (with 110 million believers and 350 bishops), Catholicism is hardly static in the region. Winn discussed the politicization of the Church and the development of liberation theology as well as the appearance of rivals such as the Pentecostals (a growing presence in Brazil) and the existence of non-Christian religions like Umbanda (a Brazilian blend of African religion and European pseudoscience) and Haitian Voodoo (which, along with Brazilian Candomble, are more purely African).
Chapter eleven looks at the paintings, poetry, music, and literature of Latin America and the Caribbean, looking at among other things the "three greats" of the Mexican mural movement (Rivera, Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente), the samba (Brazil's national dance), and the telenovela (the Latin American soap opera, which has surprisingly old origins).
Chapter twelve looked at international relations (particularly with the United States) and issues of sovereignty. Winn examined U.S. intervention in the region, the struggles of nations like Jamaica to maintain some control over the export of their raw materials (in their case, bauxite), the cocaine trade and its complex legacy in Colombia, and growing regional economic integration.
The thirteenth chapter looks at the problem of rebellions and revolutions in the region and examines several recent examples. He looked at common causes of revolutions, such as economic inequality, unrepresentative government, integration of the state into the world economy which produced economic and social dislocation and rising (and unmet) political and economic aspirations, and identification of the old regime with foreign interests. He examined revolutions and civil wars in Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and most recently in Peru with the Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path.
Finally, chapter fourteen looks at Latin American and Caribbean peoples in the United States, looking at their growing numbers in the U.S., examining the history of Mexicans and later Central Americans in Los Angeles, Cubans in Miami, Puerto Ricans in New York City as well as Dominican and Haitian immigrant communities, and closing by examining issues of integration and assimilation of Latinos in the U.S.
The first chapter introduces the region to the reader and provides a few interesting facts. The author noted for instance that the region is far from Spanish-speaking only; while over 300 million (in 1992) speak Spanish, there are 150 million Portuguese speakers, English, Dutch, and French is also spoken in the Caribbean and northeastern South America, as well as five major indigenous languages or language groups (Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, by over one million people, over 2 million speakers of the various Mayan languages, 8 million speakers of Quechua, the language of the Incas, half a million speakers of the highland language of the Aymara, and large numbers of Guarani speakers in Paraguay).
The second chapter discusses the legacy of colonial times, focusing particularly on the legacy of Spain's New World empire. Much of the region was shaped by Spain's division of the region under viceroys and "mini-viceroys" (which provided the territorial basis of most of today's republics), its people's intermarriage with people of different races (which they called castas and are today called mestizo - mixed Amerindian and European - and mulatto - mixed African and European), the Church's coming to terms with indigenous religions (as a "social safety valve and an as an aid to conversion," producing a complex layering of beliefs), and (along with the Portuguese in Brazil), the planting of labor-intensive crops like sugar that required the importation of African slaves.
Chapters three and four focus on the history of Argentina, covering the development of Argentine estancias (ranches) and its booming beef export business, the evolution of Buenos Aires (more Italian than Argentine for many years, styled as the "Paris of South America," and later shaped by internal migrations from the Andean provinces), and the rise and fall of Juan Domingo and Evita Peron.
Chapter five deals with the history of Brazil, grappling with Brazilian notions of grandeza (greatness, a sense of optimism about the country's future), the good and bad legacies of the economic "miracle" since 1960, the development of the "bureaucratic authoritarian regime" (a type of military government later emulated in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay), and its huge disparities of wealth (in 1974 it had more unequal income distribution than India).
The sixth chapter discusses the issue of internal migration in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since World War II over one hundred million people have moved within the region to seek their fortunes elsewhere, a migration largely of rural people to their nation's cities, often forming huge squatter settlements (favelas in Brazil, villas miserias or "towns of misery" in Argentina) and enlarging capital cities (30 million Mexicans for instance migrated to Mexico City, making it the largest metropolitan area in the world).
Chapter seven looks at the status of Amerindians in the region today, particularly in the four nations that contain the great majority of them (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Guatemala).
The eighth chapter looks at blacks today in the area. As in the previous chapter, issues of formal discrimination and social prejudice are discussed, with non-whites either trying to "pass" to join their country's creole and mestizo elites, or instead reaffirm and revitalize their heritage, all part of a "complex color consciousness" in the region, something not seen in the United States. The author compared and contrasted issues of African heritage in two nations on one island (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and also looked at Brazil and Trinidad.
Chapter nine examines the role and history of women, examining their political roles in Chile in detail.
Chapter ten looks at the development and role of the Catholic Church as well as competing religions. Though more Catholics live in Latin America and the Caribbean than anywhere else (3 out of 5) and Brazil has the world's largest national church (with 110 million believers and 350 bishops), Catholicism is hardly static in the region. Winn discussed the politicization of the Church and the development of liberation theology as well as the appearance of rivals such as the Pentecostals (a growing presence in Brazil) and the existence of non-Christian religions like Umbanda (a Brazilian blend of African religion and European pseudoscience) and Haitian Voodoo (which, along with Brazilian Candomble, are more purely African).
Chapter eleven looks at the paintings, poetry, music, and literature of Latin America and the Caribbean, looking at among other things the "three greats" of the Mexican mural movement (Rivera, Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente), the samba (Brazil's national dance), and the telenovela (the Latin American soap opera, which has surprisingly old origins).
Chapter twelve looked at international relations (particularly with the United States) and issues of sovereignty. Winn examined U.S. intervention in the region, the struggles of nations like Jamaica to maintain some control over the export of their raw materials (in their case, bauxite), the cocaine trade and its complex legacy in Colombia, and growing regional economic integration.
The thirteenth chapter looks at the problem of rebellions and revolutions in the region and examines several recent examples. He looked at common causes of revolutions, such as economic inequality, unrepresentative government, integration of the state into the world economy which produced economic and social dislocation and rising (and unmet) political and economic aspirations, and identification of the old regime with foreign interests. He examined revolutions and civil wars in Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and most recently in Peru with the Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path.
Finally, chapter fourteen looks at Latin American and Caribbean peoples in the United States, looking at their growing numbers in the U.S., examining the history of Mexicans and later Central Americans in Los Angeles, Cubans in Miami, Puerto Ricans in New York City as well as Dominican and Haitian immigrant communities, and closing by examining issues of integration and assimilation of Latinos in the U.S.
August 16, 2018
Solid, thorough exploration of Latin America. As with any history text it was dry at times and may be not as up-to-date as it could be if it was revised for 2018. That said, the history was compelling and I certainly learned quite a bit. Found some great info to add to my classes and feel much stronger in my basic content knowledge regarding this topic.
December 18, 2022
Full of information but since it was published in 2006, it had a lot of outdated language that I was not about tbh
January 1, 2015
I came across a copy of this book in a hiking lodge in Patagonia and spent the next day resting and reading. A fascinating introduction to the diversity of peoples in Latin America, I especially enjoyed the chapters highlighting the experiences of women, indigenous peoples and the differing ways race is understood throughout Latin America. Drawing from interviews with contemporary Latin Americans makes this book easy to read and less abstract. Great book.
July 5, 2020
While the book is now a little out of date (roughly 14 years at the time I read it), this book is a fairly exhaustive, yet accessible overview of the history of the Latin American and Caribbean countries. I found it less accessible and more academic than Mann's 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, and more accessible and slightly less polemical than Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. (That it's less of a polemic than Open Veins is not necessarily a mark in its favour; it's really a neutral fact, but worth mentioning in the context of Open Veins)I read this book primarily because I wanted more insight into Latin American history and didn't know where to start. I definitely got what I needed from it, and I think it will function well as a jumping off point from which I can more easily ascertain what to read next and how to evaluate potential material.
February 28, 2024
Awesome, sweeping account of Latin American history. Does a wonderful job of segmenting it's approach into themed chapters, and does well to emphasize patterns through specific deep dives rather than attempt to just tell the history of everyone. Some chapters are stronger than others in that sometimes the exposition tends to be a little anecdotal, I find that the strongest sections are the more macro discussions and breakdowns of political movements. All in all, I've come away with a refined and cohesive understanding of Latin American and Caribbean history that I wouldn't trade for the world. Wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone interested in history and curious about the changing relationship between Latin America & the Caribbean, the United States, and the broader global economic system.
Shoutout to my mom for giving me this book as a Christmas gift and for supporting my fascination with the languages and cultures that characterize not just LAC but our own country as well. I truly believe that the United States is a bilingual nation and that our national identity must inevitably trend towards embracing our connection to the America's and acknowledge the dynamism of such communities within and outside our borders.
Shoutout to my mom for giving me this book as a Christmas gift and for supporting my fascination with the languages and cultures that characterize not just LAC but our own country as well. I truly believe that the United States is a bilingual nation and that our national identity must inevitably trend towards embracing our connection to the America's and acknowledge the dynamism of such communities within and outside our borders.
March 11, 2019
This seems to be an expansive though somewhat superficial overview of topics central to the "Americas" - that is, Latin America and the Caribbean. It covers many important topics in history, culture, and politics (my favorites!) but its coverage is spread quite thin because it includes so many countries and regions. It is a good primer for those who might be interested in learning more about Latin America. Feel free to dive deeper into any of the topics as there is much more to know. Also, important to note, I picked up this book because of an online class that was from 2006 and the book itself is from 1992. So, quite old in the scheme of things. For myself I know I'll make a better effort to find more recent writing the next time I'm looking for this kind of nonfiction.
May 31, 2017
I just loved the book and got to learn a lot about the people of Latin America. I enjoyed the chapters that highlighted on the chilean feminism, race, ethnicity and gender issue in Latin America. Even enjoyed knowing a lot about many different people who influenced the other people in Latin America. It's a great book!
December 24, 2022
4.25
One of its biggest strengths, is also its weakness. This book does a great job of taking on the massive task of covering the complete history of Latin America. The author does more than an admirable job, but there were many times I wished there had been more details or other view points shared. It is a must for anyone looking to learn more about the general history of Latin America.
One of its biggest strengths, is also its weakness. This book does a great job of taking on the massive task of covering the complete history of Latin America. The author does more than an admirable job, but there were many times I wished there had been more details or other view points shared. It is a must for anyone looking to learn more about the general history of Latin America.
Read
May 11, 2024i’m counting this too idc
Want to read
March 5, 20253d ed. 2006 F1414 W56 2006 Memorial Library
October 18, 2024
I love this book. It is satiating my desire to generally understand latin america and the caribbean and why they are how they are today. Yes it is published in 92. But a top notch informative read for me. This book has got me back into reading.
March 9, 2015
This is difficult to review as the book was supposed to be a comprehensive view of Latin America, yet so man things have changed since the book was written. As a result, the book came off as outdated. However, it was obvious that Winn's research was thorough and the book was written in a way that the material was easily accessible.
June 10, 2014
good teaching tool for into class, if a bit outdated on some of the more recent topics
March 19, 2016
Reading this for school.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews