Fall 2005

HIS240 Latin America to Independence

Study Questions for Final Exam

 

~ Friday, December 16th at 9:00 am ~

 

*        You will have 60 minutes to complete the exam.

*        You may use a single 5x7 card with notes (both sides). 

*        Blue books will be provided.

 

Part I: Document Analysis

 

You will be asked to choose three (3) pairs of documents and discuss the relationship between them and how they relate to a common issue, event, or theme from the course.  You will choose these from a list of four pairs of documents.  In order to prepare for this section of the exam, you should be familiar with the content and significance of all of the documents discussed in class. [20 points each / 60 points]

 

*     Christoph Weiditz’s Drawing of an Indian Woman of Mexico (1527)

*     Christoph Weiditz’s Drawing of a Morisco Woman and her Daughter at Home (1529)

*     Fray Pedro de Gante’s Letter to Charles V, Mexico City (1552)

*         “The Evils of Cochineal,” Tlaxcala, Mexico (1553)

*        The Indian Pueblo of Texupa in 16th Century Mexico (1579)

*        Alonzo Ortiz’ Letter to His Wife, Mexico City (1574)

*        Jerónimo de Benarcama’s Letter to Francisco de Borja, Granada (1566)

*        José de Acosta on the Salvation of the Indians (1588)

*        Miguel Hernández, “Master of Mule Trains”

*        Two Images from the Codex Osuna (1565)

*        Two Images from the Codex Sierra (1555/61)

*        The Huejotzingo Altarpiece (1586)

*        Thomas Cummins and William Taylor, “The Mulatto Gentlemen of Esmeraldoas”

*        Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, “Appeal Concerning Priests” (1615)

*        Pedro de León Portocarrero, “Description of Lima”

*        “The Church and Monastery of San Francisco, Lima” (1673)

*        Solange Alberro, “Beatriz de Padilla”

*        “Santa Rosa of Lima According to a Pious Accountant” (1617)

*        “Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s Letter to Sor Filotea” (1691)

*        “Portaits of Santa Rosa and Sor Juana”

*        Sor Juana, “You Men (foolish men)”

*        Sor Juana, “Sonnet”

*        Sor Juana, “Since I am Condemned”

*        Sor Juana, “This Evening, My Love”

*        Serge Gruzinski, “Mutilated Memory”

*        “The Witness Francisco Poma y Altas Caldeas of San Pedro de Acas” (1657)

*        “Crossing the Dome of the Rosary Chapel” (1632-90)

*        “Two Painting of a Corpus Christi Procession in Cusco, Peru” (1674/80)

*        Nicolás Ñenguirú’s Letter to the Governor of Buenos Aires (1753)

*        José de Gálvez, “Decrees for the King’s Subjects in Mexico” (1769/78)

*        “The Foundation of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Morenos de Amapa, Mexico” (1769)

*        “Concolorcorvo Engages the Postal Inspector about Indian Affairs” (1776)

*        “Two Castas Paintings” & the handout of 16 types of castas

*        “America Nursing Spanish Noble Boys”

*        Simon Collier, “National Consciousness and Alternative Myth.”

 

 

Part II: Essay

 

You will be asked to write an essay in response to one (1) of the following questions.  Make reference to all relevant material (at least 3 sources).  Give examples that illustrate your points.  Make sure that you have clearly-stated thesis, a structured argument, a thoughtful conclusion.  Also, make sure to be specific in you use of terms and evidence.  You will have 20 minutes. [40 points]

 

 

*        How did the Catholic Church change after the end of Hapsburg rule?

*        In what ways was the indigenous population a “spiritual problem”?  In what ways was the indigenous population a “spiritual” advantage? 

*        In what ways did colonial artists use images to express both perspective and argument; and why was image sometimes better than language for their purpose? What challenges faced the newly independent Spanish American nations?  Consider both the challenge of independence in a complex international system and the challenge of unifying a coherent post-colonial nation state.  What political, economic, and social/cultural challenges did Independence (and the Wars of Independence) bring?

*        From where did the myth of Saint Thomas originate?  Why did this have relevance for the Creoles in New Spain and the other Spanish colonies?  How did the tradition of Saint Thomas of the East seem applicable to the West?  Why was it necessary for both the Indians’ and missionaries’ survival for Saint Thomas to have come to the Indies?  Why did the Spanish Crown allow the exaltation of Saint James in the Americas while being threatened by the spread of Saint Thomas?

*        Why was the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe so widespread in Spanish America?  How did it connect Catholicism  to indigenous culture?  Why would Creoles seek to get official church approval of it? 

*        How did Hapsburg Spain economically try to control its American colonies?  By what means did these colonies try to circumvent these restrictions and monopolies.  Did Creole dislike of the Crown’s interference have a unifying role in Meso- and South America?  What about the nature of New Spain’s colonial economy made the colonists “humbly conservative,” according to Burkholder?

*        What are the similarities and differences in the way that Carlos Fuentes describes the “Baroque Culture” and the “Age of Goya”?

*        What was the impact of the Enlightenment and the Bourbon Reforms on Spanish America?  In what ways did these cause Spanish American Creoles to want Independence from Spain?  (Note: not all aspects of the Enlightenment and the reforms led to a spirit of independence.)

*        What changes, other than those created by the Bourbon Reforms, caused Creoles to want Independence from Spain?  Which of these were the result of events outside of Spanish America?  Which were the results of interactions with the non-Spanish world?  Which were the result of the political, economic, and social development of Spanish America?