History of Latin America, history of the region from the pre-Columbian period
and including colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese beginning in the 15th
century, the 19th-century wars of independence, and developments to the end of the
20th century.
Latin America is generally understood to consist of the entire continent of South
America in addition to Mexico, Central America, and the islands of the Caribbean
whose inhabitants speak a Romance language. The peoples of this large area shared
the experience of conquest and colonization by the Spaniards and Portuguese from
the late 15th through the 18th century as well as movements of independence
from Spain and Portugal in the early 19th century. Even since independence, many of
the various nations have experienced similar trends, and they have some awareness
of a common heritage. However, there are also enormous differences between them.
Not only do the people live in a large number of independent units, but the geography
and climate of their countries vary immensely. The inhabitants’ social and cultural
characteristics differ according to the constitution of the occupants before the Iberian
conquest, the timing and nature of European occupation, and their varying material
endowments and economic roles.
Since the Spanish and Portuguese element looms so large in the history of the region,
it is sometimes proposed that Iberoamerica would be a better term than Latin
America. Latin seems to suggest an equal importance of the French and Italian
contributions, which is far from being the case. Nevertheless, usage has fastened on
Latin America, and it is retained here.
This article treats the history of Latin America from the first occupation by
Europeans to the late 20th century, with an initial consideration of
the indigenous and Iberian background. For more-detailed coverage of the area prior
to European contact, see pre-Columbian civilizations. For additional information
about the European exploration and colonization of Latin America, see colonialism.
For information about the individual countries of Central America and South
America as well as the Romance-language-speaking Caribbean
countries, see specific country articles by name: for Central America, seeBelize, Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; for South
America, see Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French
Guiana (a départément of France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay,
and Venezuela; and, for the Caribbean, see Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
and Haiti. See also the articles on the dependencies
and constituent entities Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Puerto Rico. The physical and
human geography of the continents, with some historical overview, are provided in
the articles North America and South America. There is also a separate article Latin
American literature. For discussion of major cities of Latin America and their
histories, see specific articles by name—e.g., Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires,
and Mexico City.
History of Latin America, history of the region from the pre-Columbian period
and including colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese beginning in the 15th
century, the 19th-century wars of independence, and developments to the end of the
20th century.
Latin America is generally understood to consist of the entire continent of South
America in addition to Mexico, Central America, and the islands of the Caribbean
whose inhabitants speak a Romance language. The peoples of this large area shared
the experience of conquest and colonization by the Spaniards and Portuguese from
the late 15th through the 18th century as well as movements of independence
from Spain and Portugal in the early 19th century. Even since independence, many of
the various nations have experienced similar trends, and they have some awareness
of a common heritage. However, there are also enormous differences between them.
Not only do the people live in a large number of independent units, but the geography
and climate of their countries vary immensely. The inhabitants’ social and cultural
characteristics differ according to the constitution of the occupants before the Iberian
conquest, the timing and nature of European occupation, and their varying material
endowments and economic roles.
Since the Spanish and Portuguese element looms so large in the history of the region,
it is sometimes proposed that Iberoamerica would be a better term than Latin
America. Latin seems to suggest an equal importance of the French and Italian
contributions, which is far from being the case. Nevertheless, usage has fastened on
Latin America, and it is retained here.
This article treats the history of Latin America from the first occupation by
Europeans to the late 20th century, with an initial consideration of
the indigenous and Iberian background. For more-detailed coverage of the area prior
to European contact, see pre-Columbian civilizations. For additional information
about the European exploration and colonization of Latin America, see colonialism.
For information about the individual countries of Central America and South
America as well as the Romance-language-speaking Caribbean
countries, see specific country articles by name: for Central America, seeBelize, Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; for South
America, see Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French
Guiana (a départément of France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay,
and Venezuela; and, for the Caribbean, see Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
and Haiti. See also the articles on the dependencies
and constituent entities Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Puerto Rico. The physical and
human geography of the continents, with some historical overview, are provided in
the articles North America and South America. There is also a separate article Latin
American literature. For discussion of major cities of Latin America and their
histories, see specific articles by name—e.g., Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires,
and Mexico City.
