Title: Teaching Latin American History I As a Hybrid Course
1Teaching Latin American History IAs a Hybrid
Course
William A. Paquette Professor of History MERLOT
History Editor wpaquette_at_tcc.edu
2Why Teach Latin American History?
- The Hispanic Population represented 14.8 of the
United States Population in 2006 and remains the
fastest growing minority group in the United
States. - United States History textbooks are Anglo-centric
with the focus on England and the English
settlements in the United States. - The first European explorers in the 15th century
to the United States were sent by Spain. - The vast majority of exploration and successful
colonization in the Americas was done by Spain
and Portugal in the 16th century. - The oldest city in the United States is St.
Augustine, Florida and, yet colonial Americas
focus remains the English settlements. - The exploration and settlement of Florida, Texas,
California, and the region between Texas and
California was done by Spain and predates the
westward expansion of the 19th century United
States, but it is rarely emphasized in proper
chronological context. - The need for the Spanish (and Portuguese)
perspective on the exploration, colonization, and
settlement of the Americas. - The Spanish encountered the Americas most
advanced Pre-Columbian civilizations among the
Aztec, Inca, and Maya peoples.
3Percent of Hispanics by Regionof the United
States (2006)
- In the Northeast 11.3 of the population is
Hispanic. - In the Midwest 5.3 of the population is
Hispanic. - In the South 14.5 of the population is
Hispanic. - In the West 26.6 of the population is Hispanic.
4Distribution of Hispanics by Place of Origin
(2006)
- 65.5 are from Mexico (28.3 million).
- 8.6 are from Puerto Rico (3.7 million).
- 8.2 are from Central America (3.5 million).
- 6.0 are from South America (2.6 million)
- 3.7 are from Cuba (1.6 million).
- 8.0 are Hispanic from other locations (3.4
million).
5Why a Hybrid Course?
- Students are engaged in active learning.
- Blackboard becomes a tool permitting continuous
discussion. - Permits the use of videos whose running time are
longer than the normal classroom meeting. - Blackboard discussion board permits video content
and commentary exchanges. - MERLOT websites enhance content learning, which
demand longer time allotments. - Lectures permit introduction of key themes.
- Lectures direct active learning activities.
- Hybrid resources extend learning and offset
limits of existing Latin American History
textbooks. - Permits the incorporation of student experiences
in Latin America. - Permits the incorporation of faculty study in
Latin America.
6The Geography of Latin America
- Map 1 Pre-Columbian Civilizations in Latin
America. - Map 2 1780 Viceroyalties in Latin America.
- Map 3 Contemporary Latin America.
7Pre-Columbian Civilizations
8Viceroyalties of 1780 Latin America
9Latin America Geography and Population Centers
10The Olmec Video
11The Mysterious Olmec People
- Students watch The Olmec Art of Ancient Mexico
produced by the National Gallery of Art,
Washington, DC. - The origins of the Olmec people remains a
mystery. - The National Gallery of Arts exhibition on the
Olmec brought Shang Dynasty scholars to
Washington who concluded that funeral shards
contained Shang Dynasty Chinese calligraphy. - Were the Olmec Chinese?
- If the Olmec were Chinese how would this change
the record on the history of the Americas? - The Olmec Art of Ancient Mexico engages the
student in using art and archaeology to decipher
clues to a cultures origin. - Identifies the populations of Mesoamerica
influenced by the Olmec.
12Central AmericaThe Burden of Time Video
13The Maya of Central America
- The Maya civilization was the only one in the
Americas to develop a written language. - The Maya excelled in mathematics and astronomy.
- Who were the Maya?
- What were their religious beliefs?
- How were they governed?
- Did they engage in bloodletting?
- What is their history timelines?
- How accurate is the Mel Gibson film Apocalypto?
- What sports did the Maya play?
- Why did their civilization collapse before the
arrival of the Spanish? - Why does the Maya calendar stop on December 23,
2012?
14Mesoamerica Slides from Coba, Chichen Itza, and
Tulum
15Three Maya City StatesCoba, Chichen Itza, Tulum
- Coba, Late Classic Period, 200 B.C.E. to 900 C.E.
- Chichen Itza, Terminal and Early Post Classic
Period, 800 to 1200 C.E. - Tulum, Late Post Classic Period, 1200-1530 C.E.
16Tulum Chichen Itza Video
17The Mesoamerican BallgameMERLOT Assignment
- Provides information about the Maya culture.
- Provides information about Maya art.
- Provides information about major Maya
city-states Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Palenque,
Tikal, Yaxchilan, Bonampak, and Copan. - Explains the rules of the Maya ballgame.
- Introduces user to diagrams of play, game songs,
uniforms, artwork associated with the sport. - Discusses whether women could play.
- Presents what happened to the team that lost.
- The site self-tests by creating a animation that
allows two teams to play the game and score
points.
18Mesoamerican Ballgame
19Xcaret Mesoamerican Ballgames Video
20The Astronomy of Central and South AmericaMERLOT
Assignment
- The site introduces the user to the importance
astronomy played in the Pre-Columbian
civilizations of the Americas. - Users are able to calculate dates according to
the Maya calendar system. - The site explains how the Maya calendar system
was developed. - The site explains how the movement of heavenly
bodies determined religious celebrations, war
declarations, political decisions. - Introduces users to the Maya prophecy interpreted
as the end of the world on December 23, 2012. - Explains how the reign dates of Maya rulers are
calculated. - Compares Maya, Toltec, Aztec, Inca calendar
systems.
21Astronomy of Central and South America
22Uxmal Video
23TeotihuacanAztec City of the Gods
- Review slides from Mesoamerica CD on Teotihuacan
- The Citadel
- The Temple of Quetzalcoatl
- The Avenue of the Dead
- The Pyramid of the Sun
- The Pyramid of the Moon
- The Quetzal-Papalotl
- Palace of the Jaguars
- Temple of the Feathered Conches
24Mel Gibsons Apocalypto Video
25Maya and Aztec ContributionsThe Accuracy of
Apocalypto
- The Maya writing system of glyphs for science and
literature. - The Maya calendar system.
- The legacy of the Maya.
- Olmec, Maya, and Toltec influences on the Aztec.
- The abandonment of Teotihuacan.
- Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Capital.
26Pre-Columbian Civilizations of South America
- Coastal Civilizations along the Andes.
- The geography of South America.
- The civilization known as Sipan.
- The Inca civilization.
27Sipan Video
28The Lord of Sipan
- Who were the Moche?
- Who was buried in the Moche tombs?
- Where did the Moche live?
- What is learned from the archeological tomb
evidence? - What was the level of civilization for the Moche?
29The Incas Video
30The Inca
- What caused the Inca to thrive?
- Where was the Incan Empire located?
- How did the Inca communicate without a written
language? - How was the Inca military organized?
- How did the geography of the Andes affect the
development of the Inca Empire? - How did a road system facilitate government
functions? - Who were the Nazca?
- What is the importance of Cuzco and Manchu
Picchu? - What food crops did the Inca grow?
- Describe the Inca system of terracing.
- What does mummification reveal about Inca
religious beliefs?
31The Geometry of the IncaMERLOT Assignment
- Introduces user to the design of Manchu Picchu
and how geometry was infused in this Inca city
design plan. - Examines the mysterious lines of Nazca using
mathematical rules of geometry. - Examines the layout of Cuzco by mathematical
design and relates the design to other Inca
cities. - Permits new interpretations about the origins of
ancient cities by the study of mathematics.
32The Geometry of the Inca
33Los IncosMERLOT Assignment
- The site explores the history of the Inca people.
- The site describes the political organization of
the Incan Empire. - The site examines the development of technology
by the Inca and how this affected agriculture and
warfare. - The site presents an understanding about
agriculture, terraced farming, and the variety of
foods grown, e.g. the many varieties of potatoes
and tapiocas. - The site examines the critical function of roads
and messengers in trying the Incan Empire into a
unified state. - The site presents specific artistic contributions
by the Inca. - The site presents specific scientific
contributions by the Inca. - The site examines the extensive network of trade
and commerce.
34Los Incos
35The Mission Video
36The Mission Video
- What was the nature of the dispute between Spain
and Portugal in the Amazon River region? - How did the Portuguese Jesuits treatment of the
native population compare with the treatment of
the indigenous population by the Spanish Jesuits? - What contributed to the indigenous populations
acceptance of Roman Catholicism? - Which European country was awarded the land in
dispute? - How did the Spanish treat the indigenous
population? - What does the film reveal about Spanish colonial
policies toward the indigenous population? - How did Roman Catholicism fail the indigenous
peoples?
37The Buried Mirror SeriesVideo Series
38The Buried MirrorVideo Series
- Part I The Virgin and the Bull explores the
symbolism of the two most misunderstood
archetypes of Spanish culture the Virgin Mary
and the bullfight. - Part II Conflict of the Gods retraces the
culture and society of the Aztecs. - Part III The Age of Gold examines how gold,
silver, chocolate, tomatoes, the potato, and
Roman Catholicism contributed to the destruction
of the pre-Columbian world. - Part IV The Price of Freedom follows the
independence movements of Bolivar and San Martin
in 19th century Latin America. - Part V Unfinished Business focuses on the
contemporary problems facing Latin America.
39European Voyages of ExplorationSpain and
PortugalMERLOT Assignment
- Examines the history of Spain and Portugal before
exploration. - Discusses the political systems in place for both
Spain and Portugal in the 15th century. - Describes the economy, people, and urban
population of Spain and Portugal. - Explains why both Spain and Portugal became
exploring nations. - Identifies the key figures in Spain and Portugal
who promoted exploration and colonization. - Discusses the role of Spain and Portugals
explorers, conquistadors, and Roman Catholic
Church in the colonization of the Americas. - Explains when and why African slavery was
introduced into the Americas. - Provides the opportunity to evaluate the Spanish
and Portuguese legacy on the Americas indigenous
populations.
40The European Voyages of Exploration
41The ConquistadorsMERLOT Assignment
- Offers theories for the fall of the Aztec Empire.
- Examines the role of Cortes as hero or villain.
- Explains why the Incan Empire succumbed to the
Spanish. - Traces the routes of Spanish and Portuguese
explorers along the Amazon. - Examines the critical role of Cabeza de Vaca in
protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. - Introduces theories about who were the first
people to populate the Americas. - Introduces users to key figures associated with
European exploration of the Americas. - Provides an effective timeline for the arrival
and settlement of Europeans into the Americas.
42The ConquistadorsMERLOT Assignment
4316th Century Spanish Census of the
AmericasMERLOT Assignment
- The site provides the 50 item questionnaire
developed by Juan Lopez de Velasco to provide the
King of Spain with an understanding of the lands
Spain acquired in the Americas. - Questions ask the identification of native
languages. - Questions ask which conquistadores took which
regions. - Questions ask for the description of the
geography. - Questions ask for the description of the plant
and animal life. - Questions ask for the description of Spanish and
indigenous villages. - Questions ask for the description of how homes
are built. - Questions ask for the description of crops
cultivated. - Questions ask for the identification of plants
for medical use. - Questions ask about trade and commerce.
- Questions ask about the location of churches and
monasteries.
4416th Century CensusMERLOT Assignment
45Builders of ImageLatin American Cultural
Identity Video
- Why is Latin America an important to
understanding the history of the Americas and the
United States? - How does Art shape the cultural identity of Latin
America? - How does music shape the cultural identity of
Latin America? - How did the art and music of pre-Columbian
civilizations blend with the art of African
slaves and Catholic Spain and Portugal?
46Builders of Image Video
47Summary of Learning Toolsfor a Hybrid Course
- Slides
- Videos
- MERLOT assignments
- Readings
- Discussion Boards
- Maps
- Lectures
- Faculty/student travel experiences
48The End
- William A. Paquette
- Professor of History
- MERLOT History Editor
- wpaquette_at_tcc.edu