Qualification aims

Students gain sound knowledge of the historical constitution of Latin America as well as major interpretive approaches. These are critically examined from different disciplinary perspectives and placed in a larger interdisciplinary context; decolonial perspectives play a special role here. In addition, students learn and apply theories and exemplary research approaches to Latin American history—from the pre-Columbian eras through the colonial period and state- and nation-building to the present. They learn to conduct process-oriented research by critically using various forms of sources and representations. Students develop research and presentation skills and learn to critically interpret various cultural phenomena, social contexts, and political-economic realities in Latin America based on the differentiation of raza, gender, and class, paying special attention to intersectional approaches. Students gain comprehensive, detailed, and specialized knowledge at the cutting edge, as well as specialized professional and conceptual problem-solving skills in areas including historical studies and ancient American studies/anthropology. In addition, students are introduced to the basics of ethics and social responsibility in academic work. They learn how to handle research data and objects and practice-changing perspectives. Furthermore, they learn social competence in gender and diversity, as well as independence by leading groups in complex tasks.

Content

The module addresses interpretive approaches and theories of Latin American constitution from pre-Columbian eras through the colonial period to the present. Special attention is given to cultural dynamics, socioeconomic transformations and inequalities, decolonial, transnational and global historical perspectives, and gender-specific aspects in their respective historical contexts. In addition, exemplary approaches in social and cultural sciences, and especially in ancient Americanist/cultural anthropological and historical research, are discussed—if possible, including the findings from the module “Indigenous languages”—on the basis of sources from the region and different participants as well as considering the provenance of works and goods and different topics and concepts.

Essentials

Teaching and learning methods: Grundkurs (GK) + Seminar (S)

Module exam: Written exam (90 minutes)

Offer: Every study year (Grundkurs in winter semester, Seminar in summer semester)