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Colonial Latin America: HIST 3398, 001
Reading Analysis Suggestions

Fall 2019

Quiz 1: August 28

Johnson, Introduction and Chapter 1

• How is honor defined in Johnson's introduction?  How did individuals acquire honor?  How did they maintain their honor?  How could individuals lose honor?
• How did the concept of honor incorporate Iberian and American cultures?  Can you identify any connection to the Spanish culture of reconquista and the native imperial culture in the honor system?
• How does Mark Burkholder describe the honor system in Spain?  How did honor relate to occupation?  To family background?  How did the Spanish system distinguish between nobles and commoners?  How did that distinction transfer to the Americas?  How did the honor system lead to a rigidly hierarchical society?  Can you see any room for negotiation within that hierarchy? 

Andrien, Introduction

• What are some of the themes outlined in the Introduction to the Human Tradition volume? How can the “human tradition” help us to understand the way society operated in Colonial Latin America? What specific aspects of the “human tradition” in Colonial Latin America does Andrien point out?

E-Reserve - Primary Document on Aztec Civilization: Mexico Reader “The Origin of the Aztecs”

• What is the nature of “The Origins of the Aztecs” document? Where did it come from? Who wrote it? When was it written? Should it be considered a good historical source? Why/why not? The introduction to the document emphasizes the role of Aztec religion and the fatalism of the Aztec worldview. How does the document communicate a sense of foreboding?
• What seems to be the significance of the “Suns” discussed in the document? What do they have in common? How are they destroyed?
• How can this document help you better understand the Aztec culture and belief system prior to the arrival of the Europeans? Under this belief system, how might the Aztecs react to an invasion by a new and strange people?

E-Reserve – Primary Document on Maya Civilization: Mexico Reader “Popol Vuh”

• What is the nature of the reading from the Popol Vuh? Who wrote it and when? What types of stories does it contain? How can we as historians use a source such as this?
• What does the excerpt from the Popol Vuh reveal about Maya culture? How does this creation story compare to the one from last week by the Aztecs? How does it compare to other creation stories?

E-Reserve – Primary Document on South American Indigenous: Peru Reader “The Huarochirí Manuscript

• What is the nature of the Huarochiri document? Who wrote/created it? Where did it come from? How can we use this type of source in examining the Inca civilization and/or the Spanish colonial system that followed?
• What kind of story does the Huarochiri excerpt tell? How do the themes of gender, nature, and trickery come together in the excerpt? What could this document tell us about the Inca? How might the Spanish use this story/document to their advantage?

Quiz 2: September 9

Andrien, Chapter 1

• What is Matthew Restall's main argument about the life and career of Gaspar Antonio Chi?  To what does Restall compare Chi?  Why does he write a "reverse" biography?  Is this an effective strategy?
• How did Chi describe the Maya civilization prior to the Spanish Conquest?  To what did he attribute the decline of the native society?
• What career did Chi pursue and why?  How did his career expose him to the unpleasantries of the Spanish encounter with his native people?  What effect did that have on him?
• Why does Restall divide Chi's youth into two halves with the arrival of the Spanish?  How does Restall describe Maya society during Chi's youth?
• How well does this chapter help you better understand information from lectures and the textbook?

Boyer, Chapter 3

• Who was Andres Mexia and what was the nature of the investigation against him?  What do the documents reveal about the way natives tried to negotiate within the Spanish systems of law, religion, and honor?  What does the investigation suggest about the level of importance the Spaniards placed on the rule of law? 
• Matthew Restall's Chapter in The Human Tradition volume made reference to the case of Andres Mexia.  Do you see any parallels between his biography of Gaspar Antonio Chi and the events described in these documents? 

Quiz 3: September 16

Andrien, Chapter 2

• What is Susan Ramirez's main argument about the role Don Melchior Caruarayco played in the Spanish take-over of the Inca Empire?  What were his duties as an Incan leader before and after the arrival of the Spaniards?  How does his life change with the conquest?
• What evidence does Ramirez offer of the consequences of the Spanish conquest on the Native peoples of Cajamarca?  What are some specific examples of this from her chapter?
• What role does religion play in Ramirez's chapter?  How do the Inca respond to their own religion and how do they react to Catholicism?
• How did new Spanish social values affect the Inca in the chapter?

Andrien, Chapter 4

• What is Alida Metcalf's main argument about the settlement of Brazil?  What role did mamelucos play?   What caused the Church and Crown to become concerned?
• How did the Brazilian native population resist Portuguese domination, according to the chapter?  How did the natives accommodate the Portuguese?  What kind of tensions did this dual dynamic cause?
• How does the Santidade sect represent to mixing of Portuguese and native cultures?  What other examples of this mixing are offered in the chapter?
• How and why did the role of mamelucos change as the Portuguese settlements developed?

Boyer, Chapter 2

• What is the nature of the land conflict depicted in the documents on Uyumbicho?  How are the problems portrayed by the Cabildo?  What solutions are proposed? 
• What evidence can you identify from the documents of the conflicts produced by assimilation?  How are the motives of the conquest portrayed in the documents?  What do they reveal about the way of life in the years immediately following the conquest in South America?
• Consider how food supply, warfare, labor abuses, and general cultural differences may have affected the spread of disease.
• How did infectious diseases affect European explorers and settlers?
• How can you use the information provided by Cook on early encounters in the Caribbean to understand the impact of disease in other regions of the mainland colonies in later years? How can you use the information provided in Cook’s chapter and the information provided in the Zorita document to better understand the health impact of the Spanish presence in the Americas?

Quiz 4: September 23

Andrien, Chapter 5

• What does Noble David Cook argue about colonial social labels?  How does the case of Catalina illustrate his point?
• How do Colonial authorities try to verify Catalina's true ethnicity?  What criteria do they use to define India versus Spaniard? Why is this important?
• How does Ludena defend himself?  How does he try to prove that Catalina is Spanish?  Why is this important?
• What evidence does the chapter offer of the social hierarchies discussed in lecture?
• What evidence does the chapter offer of the system of crime and punishment that existed in the Spanish American colonies?
• How does the chapter illustrate the system of honor that existed in the Spanish American colonies?
• What warning does Cook give to historians of Colonial Latin American society?  How does this chapter support his words of caution?

Boyer, Chapter 5

• What events precipitate the search for idols and the Santuario Grande of Iguaque?  What types of idols were discovered during the investigations?  What types of techniques did investigators use to learn the location of shrines?  How did the local natives attempt to defend themselves in front of investigators?
• What was the eventual outcome of the case?  What types of punishments were rendered?  What does this case reveal about the role of the church in the colonial period?  What does the case reveal about the way natives adapted to the Spanish system?

E-Reserve Document 4

• What is the nature of Alonzo de Zorita’s document “Why the Indians Are Dying?” How does he describe the way of life in Indian villages (particularly prior to the Spanish arrival)? What comparisons does he make to the earlier lifestyle of the indigenous and the changes brought by Spaniards?
• To what does Zorita attribute the “destruction” and “killing off” of the natives? What details does he provide about the types of labor systems put in place by the Spanish? What types of work were the natives forced to provide?
• How does the description of native labor also illustrate the cultural adjustment that native communities had to endure after the arrival of the Spanish? What impact do you think this might have on native health and overall wellbeing? How does Zorita describe health conditions and illness?

E-Reserve Document 5

• What is Noble David Cook’s main argument about disease and early Caribbean contact in the chapter “In the Path of the Hurricane?” What was the overall impact of the introduction of new diseases between the European and the Amerindian populations? What are some of the European diseases that had the most important impact? Which American diseases were most notable?
• What challenges does Cook identify in studying and understanding the spread of infectious diseases in the Spanish Caribbean territories in the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries? How does he attempt to overcome those challenges? What sources does he use? How does he approach those sources? What are your reactions to his discussion of population figures?
• How did the nature of early Spanish colonialism make the effects of infectious disease worse? What impressions do you have of how Europeans understood (or misunderstood) infectious disease and attempted to treat the problem?

Quiz 5: October 7

Andrien, Chapter 6

• What is Nancy van Deusen's main argument about Ursula de Jesus and her position in the Church?
• What evidence of social hierarchies within the Church do you see in the chapter?
• What does the chapter suggest about the role of the Church in colonists' lives?
• How were donadas important to convents in Colonial Peru?  What roles did they play?

Johnson, Chapter 2

• How did same-sex acts fit within the honor code that existed in colonial Latin America?  Why was sodomy such a challenge to social norms?  How do those attitudes underscore the existing honor system?
• Who was Dr. Gaspar Gonzalez?  What is notable about his case?  What evidence was brought against him in the investigations?  What arguments did investigators make to allude to his guilt?
• What impact, if any, did the "active" versus "passive" roles in same-sex acts have on the honor system?  What does this reveal about the importance of gender in the honor system?  How did the public scandal affect the honor code?

• How does Dr. Gonzalez stand up to the honor system?  How would you explain his behavior?  Would you consider his case unique? Why/why not? What do the documents on Marina de San Miguel reveal about the procedures of the Inquisition in the Americas?  What do they reveal about the attitudes of the Inquisition toward heresy? 

Boyer, Chapter 7

• What are Marina de San Miguel's crimes?  How does she describe her actions?  Why might you imagine that her testimony becomes clearer and more detailed as the trial progresses? 

• How does Marina try to defend herself and justify her actions?  Do you think the Inquisition considered her spiritual or physical sins to be the most serious of her offenses?  What was her punishment?  What does this illustrate about honor, shame, and the church in the colonial period?

Quiz 6: October 14

Johnson, Chapter 3

• What is Ann Twinam's argument/thesis about Don Mariano's pursuit of honor in the Havana cabildo?  Why did a public challenge of his honor affect his ability to hold the office of procurador general?  How was his mother's honor stained?  How did this carry over to him?
• How does the case of Don Mariano complicate our working definition of honor?  How did "petitions to legitimate" affect a person's honor and social standing? 
• How does Ann Twinam explain the role of gender and sexuality in the honor system?  How does she discuss the public and private spheres within the context of the honor code for the elite? 
• Overall, what conclusions can you draw about the intersection between the honor system and the political system as outlined in class?

Johnson, Chapter 4

• What is Muriel Nazzari's main argument about the "urgent need to conceal" in Colonial Brazil?  How did Anna Margarida de Mello Dormo try to preserve her honor?  How/why did she change her decision later in life?  What does this reveal about the importance of honor both in public and in family circles? 
• According to Nazzari, how did honor reinforce the emerging class system in the colonial period? 
• How did the church attempt to protect women in the context of the honor system?  How does this portrayal of the church compare with other readings?  How did the church's involvement complicate notions of honor, legitimacy, foundling, etc.?

Boyer, Chapter 6

• What was the nature of the case brought against Fernando de Medina?  What was his occupation/social class?  How does this case reflect the system of honor as it was addressed in the colonial audiencia or judicial system?  How does Fernando explain/justify his actions?  How does he try to restore his honor?
• How does this case illustrate the periodic conflict between the audiencia and the inquisitorial court?  What does it reveal about public and private spheres? 
• Given the obvious bias and inability to confirm the veracity of the testimonies, how could historians use these documents knowing many of the facts may be misrepresented?

Quiz 7: October 21

Andrien, Chapter 9

• What is Rolena Adorno’s main argument in Chapter 9 of the Human Tradition? Who was Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala? What kind of changes does his life illustrate? What kinds of sources are available to chronicle his life? Why is his experience an exceptional one for early generations of indigenous in the Americas?
• How did the status of Guaman Poma’s ancestors change after the arrival of the Spaniards? How did land ownership/control policies change during Guaman Poma’s life? What kind of complications did those changes produce? How did Guaman Poma assimilate into Spanish culture?
• What kinds of experiences are chronicled in his drawings? What seems to be the purpose of his writings and drawings? How much of an impact did his writings have?

Johnson, Chapter 6

• What is Richard Boyer's main argument about honor in Chapter 6?  According to his argument, how did plebians identify with honor?
• According to the cases Boyer cites, how did slaves attempt to negotiate their honor?  How successful were they/  How did slave honor compare to that of Indian peones?

Boyer, Chapter 12

• What is the nature of the complaint brought by Catarina Marina against Juan Teioa?  What is their ethnicity and social class?  Why did Catarina bring the suit?  What was her concern?  What restitution did Catarina demand in her suit? What defense does Juan Teioa offer? 
• What is a doncella?  Why does Juan argue that Catarina was not a doncella?  Why is this important?
• Why is a case of this nature so important?  What does it indicate about the importance of honor in non-elite levels of society? What is the final verdict in the case?  What does it suggest about honor, sex, and the legal system in colonial Latin America?

Quiz 8: October 28

Andrien, Chapter 7

• What is Mary Karasch's main argument about Zumbi of Palmares in the chapter?  How does she evaluate "order" in colonial Brazil?  What is her overall analysis of slave populations there?
• What were quilombos or macombos?  What were some of their characteristics?  Is there any significance in the origin of the name?  Why were they important?  Why was Palmares different from ordinary quilombos?
• How did macombos and particularly Palmares challenge the "order" that colonial officials were trying to maintain?  What signs of resistance (both passive and active) are evident in the chapter?
• What was the basis of the Palmares economy?  With whom did they trade?  How did this challenge the colonial order?
• What was family life like in Palmares?  (What does polyandrous family mean?)  How did this challenge the colonial order?
• What was the role of religion in Palmares?  Why was this important?
• How did Zumbi rise to power?  What was his role in Palmares?  What is his legacy?
• What type of primary document sources did Mary Karasch use in writing this chapter?  How do her sources differ from other chapters we have read?  To what would you attribute these differences?  What kind of challenges might she have faced in conducting this research?

Johnson, Chapter 8

• What is Sandra Lauderdale Graham's main argument about honor and slaves in colonial Brazil?  How could slaves participate in the system of honor that seemed to be reserved for the elite?  What complications existed in thinking about an honor system among slaves?
• Why did Henriqueta attempt to divorce herself from her husband?  What defense did he offer?  What signs of honor are present in both accounts?
• What role did property play in the case?  How does the chapter contribute to your knowledge of slavery and the system of honor in colonial Latin America?

Boyer, Chapter 20

• What does the case about Felipe Edimboro illustrate about the institution of slavery in Colonial Latin America?  What is Felipe's central argument in suing for his freedom?  How does Sanchez refute that testimony? 
• What role does religion seem to play in the case?  What role does work play?  Is honor represented in the testimony? 
• How does the court eventually rule?  What seems to be the basis for that ruling?  What broader trends does this case represent in colonial Latin America?

Quiz 9: November 11

Andrien, Chapter 11

· What is Ann Twinam's main argument regarding Pedro de Ayarza, race, and the Bourbon Reforms in the colonial period?

· Why did the Spanish Crown grant cedulas de gracias al sacar?  Does this represent any broad trends in colonial history?

· What arguments did Pedro present to be allowed to "purchase whiteness?"  Does this give any indication of how race and social position were intertwined (or were separate)?

· In the case of Pedro, what role did honor play in his struggle with race?

· Why was Pedro so insistent in his petitions to "purchase whiteness?"  What does this demonstrate about colonial society?

Johnson, Chapter 7

• What is Sonya Lipsett-Rivera's main argument about honor and women in late colonial Mexico?  What were the main ways women lost honor?  How could gossip threaten women's honor?  How did women's actions in safeguarding and restoring their honor differ from the examples we have seen of men's actions?
• Why were lower-class women particularly vulnerable to losing honor?  Did lower-class women have more avenues for restoring their own honor?  Why/why not? 
• What examples does the chapter provide of losing honor?  How do these examples compare with earlier chapters?  Why did many of these instances turn to physical violence?  What general conclusions can you draw about women and honor from this chapter?

Boyer, Chapter 21

• What is the nature of the case against Maria Cofignie?  Does the existence of French culture in New Orleans set this case apart from other cases we have studied?  What does the case suggest about the justice system in peripheral regions of the colonies?  What does it suggest about social norms late in the colonial period?  What does it suggest about honor?

Quiz 10: November 25

Andrien, Chapter 15

• How does the author describe Buenos Aires in 1795? How were events in other areas of the world affecting residents in the Spanish colonies? How did Spanish and colonial officials attempt to shield the colonies from information about events in the rest of the world? What were porteños’ most significant concerns at the time?
• How had slavery become such an important institution in Buenos Aires? What were pasquines and how did their appearance contribute to anxieties among the city’s residents? What prompted the viceroy to launch an investigation into the pasquines? What were his most significant concerns?
• Why did investigators turn their attention to French residents of the city? What kind of evidence did they collect? What are the accusations against Barbarín? Why does he fall under such intense suspicion?
• What does this chapter tell us about social conditions in Buenos Aires in the late decades of the colonial period? What does it tell us about “precursors” to independence?

Johnson, Chapter 5

• What is Lyman Johnson's main argument about plebian life in colonial Buenos Aires?  What challenges does he identify in examining the honor code among non-elite?  Where does he find evidence of their honor system?
• How did drinking affect honor?  Even though most of the plebian classes did not use the word "honor" what issues were the basis for their disputes? How did they refer to those disputes to indicate that honor was indeed a concern?
• How does Johnson's discussion of masculine behavior compare to other studies of honor we have seen so far?  How do they differ?  Are there any common links connecting the various honor scenarios?
• What conclusions does Johnson offer regarding the role of race in the honor system?  How does he address gender in plebian honor?

Boyer, Chapter 16

• What is the nature of the documents in Chapter 16 of Boyer?  Who are the authors of the documents and why were the documents written?  What reasons for the rebellion are outlined in the documents?  What kind of details do the documents provide about the lives and activities of the "lesser-known rebels?"

Quiz 11: December 4

Andrien, Chapter 16

Andrien, Chapter 17

Boyer, Chapter 23