History of Spain and Latin America
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course is designed to guide students through an exploration of the timelines, spaces and multiple dimensions of the history of Spain and Latin America from 1492 to the present day. Structured in two parts to encourage the gradual development of critical thinking, the course begins with a series of lectures (Part I) presenting key developments in Spanish and Latin American history, set against the backdrop of concurrent processes of globalisation in various phases (late 15th century-21st century). The second part offers a focused monographic study of a specific phenomenon, examined through the lens of both history and memory. The course aims to help students refine their ability to draw connections across historical periods and differing interpretations, and to critically examine a range of document types in different languages. In doing so, it seeks to foster a multidimensional understanding of the role of the Hispanic and Latin American worlds in shaping today's globalised world. Awareness of the historical depth and inherently intercultural nature of the present is a key competence for those who wish to pursue careers in communication, mediation and international cooperation.
Expected learning outcomes
Through lectures, exchanges with the lecturer, and individual and group work on the materials examined during the course (including various types of sources, historiography, literary texts, visual materials, films and documentaries), and/or through independent study of the assigned bibliographic materials, students will be able to:
- acquire a sound understanding of historical developments in Spain and Latin America from the late 15th century to the present, including the main events and turning points;
- understand, from Euro-American, inter-American, transatlantic and global perspectives, the intercultural dynamics underlying demographic, environmental, political-institutional, religious, economic, social and cultural phenomena that characterise the history of Spain and Latin America over the centuries in question;
- learn to critically examine, with attention to the relationship between past and present and between history and memory, primary sources, historiographical texts and diverse cultural materials in different languages regarding a wide-scale phenomenon in the history of Spain and Latin America over the relevant time period;
- learn to present critically and communicate effectively knowledge acquired on the topics covered, both orally and/or in writing, through individual and/or group presentations or reports;
- integrate the knowledge acquired in the fields of general history and source analysis with interpretations related to the history of Spain and Latin America from the late 15th century to the present, establishing connections with other disciplines in the study programme. The programme places emphasis on understanding historical, geographical, anthropological and cultural contexts and the critical analysis of cultural systems, and provides training in the areas of law, economics, sociology and intercultural communication.
- acquire a sound understanding of historical developments in Spain and Latin America from the late 15th century to the present, including the main events and turning points;
- understand, from Euro-American, inter-American, transatlantic and global perspectives, the intercultural dynamics underlying demographic, environmental, political-institutional, religious, economic, social and cultural phenomena that characterise the history of Spain and Latin America over the centuries in question;
- learn to critically examine, with attention to the relationship between past and present and between history and memory, primary sources, historiographical texts and diverse cultural materials in different languages regarding a wide-scale phenomenon in the history of Spain and Latin America over the relevant time period;
- learn to present critically and communicate effectively knowledge acquired on the topics covered, both orally and/or in writing, through individual and/or group presentations or reports;
- integrate the knowledge acquired in the fields of general history and source analysis with interpretations related to the history of Spain and Latin America from the late 15th century to the present, establishing connections with other disciplines in the study programme. The programme places emphasis on understanding historical, geographical, anthropological and cultural contexts and the critical analysis of cultural systems, and provides training in the areas of law, economics, sociology and intercultural communication.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Course title: Spain and Latin America from the 16th Century to the Present Day
Part 1: An Introduction to the History of Spain and Latin America (16th-21st Centuries)
Part 2: Mexico City: History, Literature, and Cinema
The first part of the course provides an introduction to the history of Spain and Latin America from a transatlantic and global perspective, covering the period from the 16th to the 21st century. The second part explores Mexico City from historical, literary, and cinematic perspectives.
The syllabus is valid until February 2028.
Part 1: An Introduction to the History of Spain and Latin America (16th-21st Centuries)
Part 2: Mexico City: History, Literature, and Cinema
The first part of the course provides an introduction to the history of Spain and Latin America from a transatlantic and global perspective, covering the period from the 16th to the 21st century. The second part explores Mexico City from historical, literary, and cinematic perspectives.
The syllabus is valid until February 2028.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no additional prerequisites beyond those required for admission to the degree programme.
Teaching methods
Attendance is strongly recommended, although it is not compulsory.
The course includes lectures designed to foster the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and disciplinary terminology, as well as the direct analysis of a range of primary sources. Class discussion forms an integral part of the teaching method and is intended to promote students' critical thinking and their ability to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
In addition to lectures, the course includes group work and/or individual presentations.
Language of instruction: Italian.
The course includes lectures designed to foster the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and disciplinary terminology, as well as the direct analysis of a range of primary sources. Class discussion forms an integral part of the teaching method and is intended to promote students' critical thinking and their ability to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
In addition to lectures, the course includes group work and/or individual presentations.
Language of instruction: Italian.
Teaching Resources
6 CFU
Attending students
Knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures.
Part 1
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012 (prima sezione), L. Zanatta, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Laterza, Roma 2021 (7), S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-M. De Giuseppe - Gianni La Bella, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-G. Hermet, Storia della Spagna nel Novecento, Il Mulino, Bologna 1999, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Part 2:
Knowledge of the materials covered in the lectures and preparation of a dossier.
The teaching materials will be available on My Ariel, https://myariel.unimi.it/
Non-attending students
Part 1
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012 (First part), L. Zanatta, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Laterza, Roma 2021 (7), S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-M. De Giuseppe - Gianni La Bella, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-G. Hermet, Storia della Spagna nel Novecento, Il Mulino, Bologna 1999, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Part 2
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- G. Albanese, Dittature mediterranee, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2016
- M. M. Benzoni, Italia-America latina: contesti storici e prospettive di ricerca (secoli XVI-XXI), in S. Ferrari - E. Leonardi (coord.), Rutas atlánticas. Redes narrativas entre América latina y Europa, Milano University Press 2021, pp. 537-575, https://libri.unimi.it/index.php/texturas/catalog/book/59 e A. del Castillo Troncoso, Le donne di X'oyep. Fotografia, storia, memoria, edizione italiana a cura di M. M. Benzoni, Milano University Press, 2023, https://doi.org/10.54103/texturas.55 (Study both texts for this option)
- H. Browne, La guerra civile spagnola, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2013
- E. Calamai, Niente asilo politico. Diplomazia, diritti umani, desaparecidos, Feltrinelli, Milano 2016 e M. Novaro, La dittatura argentina(1976-1983), Carocci, Roma 2005 (Study both texts for this option)
- B. Calandra - F. D. Ragno, Argentina. Biografia di una nazione dall'Indipendenza a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2025
-J. Canal, Storia minima della Catalogna, Viella, Roma 2018
-J. Canal, Contar España: Una historia contemporánea en doce novelas, Ladera Norte, Madrid 2024
- M. De Giuseppe, Messico. Biografia di una nazione dall'indipendenza a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2024
- J. H. Elliott, Imperi dell'Atlantico. America britannica e America spagnola, Einaudi, Torino 2017 (A part, to be agreed with the lecturer)
- Historias minimas, El Colégio de México (A volume of your choice, vhttps://libros.colmex.mx/categoria-producto/historias-minimas/)
- G. La Bella (a cura di), America Latina: le sfide del XXI secolo. Verso il terzo decennio, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli 2020
- M. Livi Bacci, Conquista. La distruzione degli indios americani, il Mulino, Bologna 2009
-J. G. Parker, Un solo re. Un solo impero. Filippo II, il Mulino, Bologna 2005
- L. Pompeo D'Alessandro, Guadalajara 1937. I volontari italiani fascisti e antifascisti nella guerra di Spagna, Carocci, Roma 2017
- H. Rawlings, L'inquisizione spagnola, il Mulino, Bologna 2008
- D. Salomoni, Magellano. Il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2022
- M. Tenorio Trillo, Latin America. The Allure and Power of an Idea, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 2017
- T. Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro, Einaudi, Torino varie edizioni e B. Las Casas, La brevissima relazione della distruzione delle Indie, ed. italiana a cura di F. Fiorani, Marsilio, Venezia 2012 ((Study both texts for this option)
The teaching materials will be available on My Ariel, https://myariel.unimi.it/
Incoming international and Erasmus students are required to contact the instructor in advance to agree on the examination programme. If necessary, this consultation may take place in English.
Attending students
Knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures.
Part 1
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012 (prima sezione), L. Zanatta, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Laterza, Roma 2021 (7), S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-M. De Giuseppe - Gianni La Bella, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-G. Hermet, Storia della Spagna nel Novecento, Il Mulino, Bologna 1999, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Part 2:
Knowledge of the materials covered in the lectures and preparation of a dossier.
The teaching materials will be available on My Ariel, https://myariel.unimi.it/
Non-attending students
Part 1
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- M. M. Benzoni, Americhe e modernità. Un itinerario fra storia e storiografia dal 1492 ad oggi, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012 (First part), L. Zanatta, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Laterza, Roma 2021 (7), S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-M. De Giuseppe - Gianni La Bella, Storia dell'America latina contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-J. H. Elliott, La Spagna imperiale 1469-1716, Il Mulino, Bologna 2006, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
-G. Hermet, Storia della Spagna nel Novecento, Il Mulino, Bologna 1999, S. Gruzinski, Storia, memoria, immaginari nel mondo globalizzato, intervista a cura di Maria Matilde Benzoni, 2015: https://video.unimi.it/media/478/
Part 2
Knowledge of one of the following options:
- G. Albanese, Dittature mediterranee, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2016
- M. M. Benzoni, Italia-America latina: contesti storici e prospettive di ricerca (secoli XVI-XXI), in S. Ferrari - E. Leonardi (coord.), Rutas atlánticas. Redes narrativas entre América latina y Europa, Milano University Press 2021, pp. 537-575, https://libri.unimi.it/index.php/texturas/catalog/book/59 e A. del Castillo Troncoso, Le donne di X'oyep. Fotografia, storia, memoria, edizione italiana a cura di M. M. Benzoni, Milano University Press, 2023, https://doi.org/10.54103/texturas.55 (Study both texts for this option)
- H. Browne, La guerra civile spagnola, Laterza, Bari-Roma 2013
- E. Calamai, Niente asilo politico. Diplomazia, diritti umani, desaparecidos, Feltrinelli, Milano 2016 e M. Novaro, La dittatura argentina(1976-1983), Carocci, Roma 2005 (Study both texts for this option)
- B. Calandra - F. D. Ragno, Argentina. Biografia di una nazione dall'Indipendenza a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2025
-J. Canal, Storia minima della Catalogna, Viella, Roma 2018
-J. Canal, Contar España: Una historia contemporánea en doce novelas, Ladera Norte, Madrid 2024
- M. De Giuseppe, Messico. Biografia di una nazione dall'indipendenza a oggi, il Mulino, Bologna 2024
- J. H. Elliott, Imperi dell'Atlantico. America britannica e America spagnola, Einaudi, Torino 2017 (A part, to be agreed with the lecturer)
- Historias minimas, El Colégio de México (A volume of your choice, vhttps://libros.colmex.mx/categoria-producto/historias-minimas/)
- G. La Bella (a cura di), America Latina: le sfide del XXI secolo. Verso il terzo decennio, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli 2020
- M. Livi Bacci, Conquista. La distruzione degli indios americani, il Mulino, Bologna 2009
-J. G. Parker, Un solo re. Un solo impero. Filippo II, il Mulino, Bologna 2005
- L. Pompeo D'Alessandro, Guadalajara 1937. I volontari italiani fascisti e antifascisti nella guerra di Spagna, Carocci, Roma 2017
- H. Rawlings, L'inquisizione spagnola, il Mulino, Bologna 2008
- D. Salomoni, Magellano. Il primo viaggio intorno al mondo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2022
- M. Tenorio Trillo, Latin America. The Allure and Power of an Idea, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 2017
- T. Todorov, La conquista dell'America. Il problema dell'altro, Einaudi, Torino varie edizioni e B. Las Casas, La brevissima relazione della distruzione delle Indie, ed. italiana a cura di F. Fiorani, Marsilio, Venezia 2012 ((Study both texts for this option)
The teaching materials will be available on My Ariel, https://myariel.unimi.it/
Incoming international and Erasmus students are required to contact the instructor in advance to agree on the examination programme. If necessary, this consultation may take place in English.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Mode of assessment: Oral examination.
Examination format: Oral examination in Italian.
Assessment criteria: Students will be assessed on their ability to organise and discuss the knowledge they have acquired, to think critically about the topics studied, to present their arguments clearly and coherently (in terms of content, effectiveness, and logical structure), and to use appropriate specialist terminology.
Grading system: Marks are awarded on a 30-point scale.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD): Examination arrangements should be agreed with the instructor, in consultation with the University's relevant support office.
Examination format: Oral examination in Italian.
Assessment criteria: Students will be assessed on their ability to organise and discuss the knowledge they have acquired, to think critically about the topics studied, to present their arguments clearly and coherently (in terms of content, effectiveness, and logical structure), and to use appropriate specialist terminology.
Grading system: Marks are awarded on a 30-point scale.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD): Examination arrangements should be agreed with the instructor, in consultation with the University's relevant support office.
HIST-02/A - Modern History - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Benzoni Maria Matilde Luisa
Professor(s)
Reception:
To make an appointment, please contact [email protected]. For information: https://ariel.unimi.it/
Room 5018, Unimi Campus, Piazza Montanelli 1 - 2099 Sesto San Giovanni (Mi)