This series offers an innovative perspective on major themes and problems in Latin American history, spanning from the colonial era to the present day. Each volume provides a concise yet authoritative survey, ideally suited for undergraduate students. It delves into essential topics such as colonialism, slavery, revolutions, and significant social and cultural issues. Study aids, including bibliographies, chronologies, and biographical sketches, are included to facilitate deeper engagement.
Anthony Knivet's Admirable Adventures is the earliest detailed description of Brazil written by an Englishman. His account gives unique firsthand glimpse into the land and people of early colonial Brazil, including descriptions of native tribes and local habits given for the first time.
Covering four centuries, this work delves into the complexities of the Atlantic slave trade, exploring its historical impact, economic implications, and the human experiences of those involved. It highlights the systems of capture, transport, and exploitation, as well as the resistance and resilience of enslaved individuals. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how the trade shaped societies on both sides of the Atlantic, making it a critical resource for understanding this dark chapter in history.
The book explores the significant waves of immigration to Brazil from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East starting in the nineteenth century. It delves into the diverse backgrounds of these immigrants, their contributions to Brazilian society, and the cultural exchanges that shaped the nation. Through historical analysis, it highlights the complexities of identity, assimilation, and the socio-economic impacts of this migration on Brazil's development.
This book examines how Gilberto Freyre's notion of mesticagem (race mixing) became the overwhelmingly dominant narrative of national identity in twentieth-century Brazil.
A fascinating study of Chica da Silva, a freed woman of color in a Brazilian town. Her story reveals the world she inhabited, and the myths that were later created around her. She came to symbolise both racial democracy, and the stereotypes attributed to the Brazilian black or mulatta female.