HIST 229 Global Migrations to the New World, 1492-present
Since 1492, almost every society, economy, and environment in the western hemisphere has been continuously affected by mass global migrations from Europe, Africa, and Asia. In this class, we will examine four periods of mass global migration to the Americas: the era of exploration, discovery and conquest (1492-ca. 1600); the Atlantic slave trade (ca. 1500-1850s); the European and Asian migrations of the industrial age (ca. 1840-1930); and the contemporary period (ca. 1940-present). As we discuss each of these migrations, we will ask a series of questions: Who were these migrants? Where did they come from, and why did they leave? How did they change the preexisting society, economy, and environment in their area of settlement? Did they retain connections to their homelands, or to other groups of migrants? Most importantly, what can their lives tell us about the common history of the Americas?