Latin American History

The Chair for Latin American History, until 2024 known as the Chair for Non-European History, deals with those regions of the Americas that were colonized by Spain and Portugal (Ibero-America) and still speak an official Romance language today. As a result, independent states emerged in the 19th century whose cultures are drawn from four different continents: The languages and traditions of the indigenous population were diversified by those of their European colonizers and, in many cases, those of the African population who were deported to America and kept as slaves. There were also connections to Asia, particularly during the colonial period via the Manila Galleon, which connected the Spanish colonies of New Spain and the Philippines with each other. The Philippines, which were administered from New Spain until their independence and remained a Spanish colony until 1898, form a smaller research focus of our chair.

After independence from Spain and Portugal in the 19th century, Latin America quickly developed into an important playing field for the gradually emerging international economy and an emigration destination for often impoverished Europeans. Over the course of the 19th century, Asian migration increased significantly alongside European migration, and migration from Africa continued even after independence.

The term Latin America was not coined until the 19th century. Geographically, Latin America encompasses parts of North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. However, the term is not a geographical one but refers to a linguistic and cultural connection that was referred to as “Latinity” in the 19th century. And yet, the area is not a historical or cultural entity, but is extremely diverse in terms of its history, culture and geopolitical interdependencies. Even in pre-colonial times, there were very differently organized societies and a great diversity of languages in the various zones of what would later become Latin America. The colonial period therefore went off different in each of the individual regions. While particularly in the Caribbean and the South American lowlands, large parts of the population died as a result of violence and imported diseases, in the Andes and Mexico they were integrated into the colonial state under slavery-like conditions.

In addition, millions of people were deported from Africa to serve as slaves in America. This forced migration was the first intercontinental mass migration in modern global history. The result was a unique combination of cultural elements and large population groups of diverse origins, which is why the emergence of today's Latin America can be considered an early version of our globalized society.

The structures of rule, resistance and social categorization as well as migration and mobility in the colonial era are some of the focal points of the Chair for Latin American History. In particular, the Chair pursues social, cultural and legal historical approaches, as well as Visual History. The transformation of societies after independence and the persistence of colonial structures to the present day are further key areas.

The majority of Latin American countries gained their independence at the beginning of the 19th century, at a time when the formalization of European colonial rule had often not even begun in Africa and Asia. Postcolonial approaches therefore have a long tradition in Latin America, and especially due to its political past, diverse influences and heterogeneous societies, research and teaching at our Chair also deal with Latin American postcolonialism and decoloniality. 

Colonialism is therefore a core area of teaching and research at the Chair for Latin American History at Münster University, taking into account comparative and trans-imperial approaches. In this context, another small focus has recently developed, which is primarily pursued in teaching: the (post)colonial history of Münster.