Uruguay - Ciclo Básico (Secondary Education) - History

This course covers a broad sweep of history, from the beginnings of humanity to the modern world, with a focus on the Americas and Uruguay. The curriculum is designed to provide a general understanding of historical processes, leaving in-depth exploration of specific topics for later study. Active learning methodologies are encouraged, with students engaging with diverse sources like documents, maps, novels, films, music, and art.

Second Year

The second-year curriculum covers the transition to modernity, the European expansion into the Americas, and the revolutions that shaped the modern world.

Unit 1: The Transition to Modernity

This unit explores the shift from the multicultural Mediterranean world to the Atlantic-focused European modernity. Key concepts include the rise of the modern state, anthropocentrism, capitalism, and the emergence of the bourgeoisie. Students will analyze the factors that enabled interoceanic voyages, particularly from the Iberian Peninsula.

Unit 2: The American Stage and European Expansion

This unit examines the encounter between Europe and the Americas. It begins with an overview of the diverse indigenous populations and then analyzes the arrival of Europeans, focusing on the various forms of conquest and colonization, with a specific study of either the Mexican or Peruvian conquest. The unit also addresses the African slave trade and the formation of a mestizo culture in the Americas. The colonization of the Platine region is studied, emphasizing its unique characteristics, indigenous populations, and the development of economic activities like cattle ranching and hide trade.

Unit 3: From the Old Regime to the Revolutions

This unit covers the major transformations that led from the Old Regime to the Age of Revolutions. Key concepts include absolute monarchy, the social orders, the scientific method, the Enlightenment, liberalism, sovereignty, individual rights, and the division of powers. The unit also explores the cycle of revolutions and their impact on the Spanish Empire in America. Finally, it examines the transformations of capitalism, the process of industrialization, and their social, economic, and ideological consequences.

Unit 4: Crisis of the Colonial Order and the Construction of New American States

This unit focuses on the breakdown of the colonial order and the challenges of forming new states in the Americas. It begins with the crisis of the Spanish Empire, including the Bourbon reforms and the Juntas movement. The unit then examines the revolution in the Río de la Plata, highlighting the Artiguist revolution and the organization of the Provincia Oriental. The process of Uruguayan independence and the early decades of its nationhood are also studied, including the interventions of foreign powers, the Constitution of 1830, and the consequences of the Guerra Grande. The unit concludes with an analysis of the challenges faced by newly independent American states, focusing on Uruguay's position in the Platine region.

Third Year

The third-year curriculum focuses on the 20th century and the perspectives and challenges of the 21st century, with an emphasis on American and Uruguayan history.

Unit 1: 1850-1930

This unit covers the period from 1850 to 1930 in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Uruguay. Key themes include monopoly capitalism, imperialism, World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the rise of avant-garde art. In Latin America, the focus is on the modernization of the state and the consolidation of the export-oriented growth model. In Uruguay, the unit examines the modernization impulse, the civil wars of 1897 and 1904, the era of Batllismo, and its eventual decline.

Unit 2: 1930-1990

This unit covers the period from 1930 to 1990, examining the impact of the 1929 crisis, World War II, the post-war world, the Cold War, and the cultural shifts of the 1960s. In Latin America, the unit explores political heterogeneity and instability, including populism, revolutions, reforms, and dictatorships. In Uruguay, the unit examines the effects of the 1929 crisis, the Terra coup d'état, the consolidation of the welfare state under Neobatllismo, the economic and political crisis leading to authoritarianism, the civic-military dictatorship, and the return to democracy.

Unit 3: 1990-Present

This unit covers the period from 1990 to the present, focusing on globalization, financial markets, new media, changing customs, regional integration (particularly MERCOSUR), environmental preservation, technological advancements, and their impact on human life and the world of work. Students are expected to select a topic within this unit for in-depth study using interactive methodologies.