A History of Chile chronicles the nation's political, social, and economic evolution from its independence until the early years of the Lagos regime. Employing primary and secondary materials, it explores the growth of Chile's agricultural economy, during which the large landed estates appeared; the nineteenth-century wheat and mining booms; the rise of the nitrate mines; their replacement by copper mining; and the diversification of the nation's economic base. This volume also traces Chile's political development from oligarchy to democracy, culminating in the election of Salvador Allende, his overthrow by a military dictatorship, and the return of popularly elected governments. Additionally, the volume examines Chile's social and intellectual history: the process of urbanization, the spread of education and public health, the diminution of poverty, the creation of a rich intellectual and literary tradition, the experiences of middle and lower classes and the development of Chile's unique culture.

This accessible chapter book, ideal for students and general readers alike, examines the political, social, and cultural history of Chile. Updated and revised from its 2003 edition, The History of Chile serves as a foundational text for those studying and interested in learning about this South American nation. Eleven chronologically-arranged chapters will guide readers through Chilean history, from prehistory to present day. Chapters examine topics such as the origins of Chileans, Chile's period as a Spanish colony, Augusto Pinochet's rule, the country's transition to democracy, and today's challenges in 2018–2019. A timeline, glossary, and appendix of Notable Individuals in the History of Chile round out the text. Written for high school and undergraduate students, but accessible to general readers as well, this volume examines Chile's history through the lenses of politics, economics, and culture and society. Readers will gain a better understanding of how Chile has modernized its economy and is incorporating immigrants.

An updated edition of the definitive, highly regarded history of Chile in the English language.

In May 1962, as the struggle for civil rights heated up in the United States and leaders of the Catholic Church prepared to meet for Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII named the first black saint of the Americas, the Peruvian Martín de Porres (1579–1639), and designated him the patron of racial justice. The son of a Spanish father and a former slavewoman from Panamá, Martín served a lifetime as the barber and nurse at the great Dominican monastery in Lima. This book draws on visual representations of Martín and the testimony of his contemporaries to produce the first biography of this pious and industrious black man from the cosmopolitan capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. The book vividly chronicles the evolving interpretations of his legend and his miracles, and traces the centuries-long campaign to formally proclaim Martín de Porres a hero of universal Catholicism.

This book deepens our understanding of race and the implications of racial mixture by examining the history of caste in colonial Mexico.

The year 1879 marked the beginning of one of the longest, bloodiest conflicts of nineteenth-century Latin America. The War of the Pacific pitted Peru and Bolivia against Chile in a struggle initiated over a festering border dispute. The conflict saw Chile's and Peru's armored warships vying for control of sea lanes and included one of the first examples of the use of naval torpedoes.