Society and Identity: A Comparative Approach to the Colonial Americas

Compares New Spain, the British North American mainland, and the Caribbean from initial colonization in the 16th century to 18th-century wars of independence. Focuses on the complex interplay of class, gender, race, and ethnicity that defined social formations and shaped identities. Reading biographies of ordinary people as well as synthetic histories, engages the past on different levels and connects individual identity and action to broader historical processes. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors and seniors.