| Unit name | The Christianisation of Spanish America (Level H Special Subject) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST37003 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cervantes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The impact of Christianity on the peoples of America is a fast-changing topic. Old models that saw the imposition of a 'superior' type of world religion on the various rituals of indigenous societies have long been questioned, but alternative interpretations suggesting a pattern of resistance to Christianity have also been shown to be defective. Instead, recent research has focused on more informal interactions between different social groups that reveal how various elements of the native religions were incorporated into the Christian rituals and vice versa. This unit will give you the opportunity to examine this material in the context of some key stages in early modern European history: the late medieval Spanish background; the pre-reformation humanist outlook of the early mendicant friars; the changes and readjustments brought about by the Tridentine reforms; and the emergence of Baroque forms of spirituality and religious expression.
Aims:
By the end of the unit students should have:
1 x 3-400 word essay (50%) and 1 x 2 hour exam (50%)
