HIST 250
(GH;IL)
(AF AM 250)
Introduction to the Modern Caribbean (3) A survey course which explores the historical evolution and emergence of the modern Caribbean.
HIST (AAA S) 250 Introduction to the Modern Caribbean (3)
(GH;IL)
(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
This course will explore the evolution of the Caribbean region from the eve of the arrival of Columbus to the 20th century. It will explore the emergence, migration, and evolution of Amerindian societies in the Caribbean islands prior to the arrival of Columbus. It will then explore the European-Amerindian interactions that lead to the disappearance of these indigenous peoples from the region and the consolidation of European colonial empires. The course will then explore the various forms of coercive labor systems that emerged in the region including indentureship, enslavement, transportation of European prisoners and other social outcasts, African slavery, and the establishment of the plantation system that defined the region until the 20th century using both free and unfree labor to maintain its dominance in these island societies until the late 20th century. The course will also cover the issue of slave resistance, the Haitian revolution, the formation of maroon communities, and the role of abolitionist politics as a factor in bringing an end to slavery. It will also look at the re-emergence of indentureship of Asians as a response to the crisis of labor and the growth of peasant agriculture in the 19th century Caribbean. The course will also explore the emergence of nationalist sentiment in the region, especially the way in which the decay of Spanish colonial authority and the rise of American imperial ambitions helped to set the stage for the nationalist awakening that defined the course of the 20th century in the region. This is the course that will complement and expand upon issues raised in AAA S/HIST 211 - The Emergence and Evolution of the Black Diaspora in the Atlantic World. It will also serve as an introduction to the 400-level course on the Caribbean in the 20th century that will be proposed simultaneously. The course will be required for students interested in pursuing the African Diaspora minor. It may be used to fulfill general education and diversity requirements. It can also be used as a course to meet non-Western history requirements in the History major. Evaluation will be based upon a book review, a mid-term, a research paper, and class discussion/participation.
Note : Class size, frequency of offering, and evaluation methods will vary by location and instructor. For these details check the specific course syllabus.