Latin America: Pre-1821

History 220 Latin America: Pre-1821 surveys the Spanish and Portuguese Empires America from their 15th century beginnings in the conquest of aboriginal empires and peoples to their break-up in the early 19th century by independence movements of Creoles. Major themes examined include the pre-contact native societies and empires, the establishment and administration of Spanish and Portuguese overseas empires, the economies and societies of the colonies, the impact and influence of the Church, European power struggles for control of Latin America, and the origins and emergence of American independence movements.