A guide to Latin American history includes a chronology of key events from pre-Columbian history through the present, a thematic survey following each topic (economic change, cultural development, politics and government) across time, and 300 biographies of Latin Americans throughout history.

General chronology -- The Americas: pre-Columbian to European conflict -- Colonial Latin America -- The struggle for independence, 1804-1825 -- Caudillos and conflict, 1826-1870 -- Incipient modernization and social change, 1871-1929 -- Economic nationalism and political protest, 1930-1959 -- Revolutionary movements and economic development, 1960-1989 -- Democracy and neoliberalism, 1990-1999 -- Topical chronology -- Society -- Politics and government -- Economic developments -- Culture -- Popular culture -- 300 notable figures of Latin American history.