History of Modern Latin America

Now available in a fully-revised and updated second edition, A History of Modern Latin America offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the cultural and political history of this vibrant region from the onset of independence to the present day. Throughout the text, examples of what transpired in a single nation at a specific time - such as the slave revolt in Haiti, the patriarchal rules governing marriage in Brazil, construction of the Panama Canal, and the Mexican Revolution - are examined as representative of wider phenomena and serve as segues into the ideas, conflicts, social movements, and cultural trends that populate Latin America's rich historical landscape. The lives of prominent figures are introduced alongside those of ordinary people from a diverse array of social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. These first-hand accounts are interspersed throughout the narrative, along with documents and excerpts from fiction, as a means of providing tangible examples of historical ideas. With added coverage of the recent opening of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba and an all new chapter exploring challenges posed by economic growth and environmental sustainability, the new edition of this popular text will be an invaluable resource for students and teachers of Latin American history.