HISTORY378

This colloquium explores the role of the environment and natural resources in geopolitically, socially, and culturally forming Latin America and the Caribbean as a distinct world region from the colonial period to the present. First, we will learn what historical ecology is and how it's similar to and different from environmental history in Latin America and the Caribbean. Second, we will read, discuss, and write about several monographs exploring topics (water access, capitalist commodities, and the coloniality of national parks) in various countries. Finally, we will apply what we learned regionally south of the United States to a local case study at Stanford, which used to be part of New Spain and Mexico before the United States conquered half of Mexico, including California, in 1848.

Exploring Difference and Power (EDP), Social Inquiry (SI)