This course introduces students to the major developments of the Hispanic World from antiquity to the independence of the American colonies in the early 19th century. Discussions center on the relationship of major literary and artistic works to economic, political, religious, and social developments in the Iberian Peninsula and the Castilian colonies in the Americas. This course is normally the first in a sequence of two and is designed to prepare students for advanced-level culture and literature courses. (Global and historical studies core)