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History of Brazil


Course Description

Brazilian history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present.


Athena Title

History of Brazil


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in HIST 3230I, LACS 3230I


Semester Course Offered

Offered every year.


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The principal objective of the course is to teach students to think critically for themselves about the relationships between the past and the present, to learn to ask questions of the past that enable them to understand the present and mold the future, and to become attuned to both the limitations and possibilities of change. The course seeks to acquaint students with the ways in which past societies and peoples have defined the relationships between community and individual needs and goals, and between ethical norms and decision-making. In general students will be expected to: 1. read a wide range of primary and secondary sources critically. 2. polish skills in critical thinking, including the ability to recognize the difference between opinion and evidence, and the ability to evaluate--and support or refute--arguments effectively. 3. write stylistically appropriate and mature papers and essays using processes that include discovering ideas and evidence, organizing that material, and revising, editing, and polishing the finished papers.


Topical Outline

Week 1 Indian antecedents Week 2 Portuguese Antecedents Week 3 Early Brazil (1500s) Week 4 The Colonial Order (1600s) Week 5 Tiradentes and the New Brazil (1700s) Week 6 Independence Week 7 The Early Empire (1822-1840) Week 8 Age of Dom Pedro II (1840-1889) Week 9 The Fall of the Empire (1889-1898) Week 10 Spring Break Week 11 The First Republic (1898-1930) Week 12 The Decline of the Republic Week 13 Getulio Vargas (1930-1945) Week 14 The Second Republic (1945-1964) Week 15 Military Dictatorship (1964-1985) Week 16 Return of Democracy (1985-present)


Syllabus