Zentralamerika

This concise and insightful biography delves into the extraordinary life and political legacy of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula-the enigmatic President of Brazil.From humble beginnings in the heart of poverty-stricken Brazil, Lula's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born into a world of hardship, he transformed himself into a charismatic leader who has championed the rights of the marginalized and fought tirelessly for social justice.The book unveils the pivotal moments that shaped his convictions and propelled him onto the global stage. From his early days as a factory worker to his union activism and eventual presidency, Lula's determination and persona captivated the hearts and minds of millions.Whether you're a history enthusiast, a political junkie, or simply curious about the life of an extraordinary leader, this biography is a must-read.

Outfoxing all other military and political personnel in the territory of Baja California Norte, Colonel Esteban CantÚ, on becoming governor, astutely played the leaders of the Mexican Revolution one against another. A compelling figure in the Mexican Revolution, he maintained his independence from Mexico City until he was forced from office in August 1920. While CantÚ was appointed governor by Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa, and Eulalio Gutierrez of the Convention Government, he followed their orders only when it suited him and published the laws of the government in Mexico City to give the appearance that he was loyal to the central power when in fact he was not. He was more concerned with neighboring Sonora and supported every anti-central government movement in that state to secure his own independence. When he gained power, CantÚ faced an indescribable morass of crime and immorality in Tijuana and Mexicali: white slavery and prostitution; opium dens; cocaine, morphine, and heroin dealers; and gambling halls, saloons, and dives of all descriptions. Governor CantÚ either licensed many of these or became connected to them in some other way, personally profiting from such activities but also employing much of this revenue to create the territory's first reliable infrastructure. This engaging account reveals the complexity of the Mexican Revolution, with a cast of characters that includes officers and officials of the Porfirian regime, revolutionaries and counterrevolutionaries, US investors, crackpots, German spies, Japanese schemers, Chinese workers, and purveyors of every sort of vice.

Who was the “Mysterious SofÍa,” whose letter in November 1934 was sent from Washington DC to Mexico City and intercepted by the Mexican Secret Service? In The Mysterious SofÍa Stephen J. C. Andes uses the remarkable story of SofÍa del Valle to tell the history of Catholicism’s global shift from north to south and the importance of women to Catholic survival and change over the course of the twentieth century. As a devout Catholic single woman, neither nun nor mother, del Valle resisted religious persecution in an era of Mexican revolutionary upheaval, became a labor activist in a time of class conflict, founded an educational movement, toured the United States as a public lecturer, and raised money for Catholic ministries-all in an age dominated by economic depression, gender prejudice, and racial discrimination. The rise of the Global South marked a new power dynamic within the Church as Latin America moved from the margins of activism to the vanguard. <BR><BR> Del Valle’s life and the stories of those she met along the way illustrate the shared pious practices, gender norms, and organizational networks that linked activists across national borders. Told through the eyes of a little-known laywoman from Mexico, Andes shows how women journeyed from the pews into the heart of the modern world.<BR>  

Who was the “Mysterious SofÍa,” whose letter in November 1934 was sent from Washington DC to Mexico City and intercepted by the Mexican Secret Service? In The Mysterious SofÍa Stephen J. C. Andes uses the remarkable story of SofÍa del Valle to tell the history of Catholicism’s global shift from north to south and the importance of women to Catholic survival and change over the course of the twentieth century. As a devout Catholic single woman, neither nun nor mother, del Valle resisted religious persecution in an era of Mexican revolutionary upheaval, became a labor activist in a time of class conflict, founded an educational movement, toured the United States as a public lecturer, and raised money for Catholic ministries-all in an age dominated by economic depression, gender prejudice, and racial discrimination. The rise of the Global South marked a new power dynamic within the Church as Latin America moved from the margins of activism to the vanguard. <BR><BR> Del Valle’s life and the stories of those she met along the way illustrate the shared pious practices, gender norms, and organizational networks that linked activists across national borders. Told through the eyes of a little-known laywoman from Mexico, Andes shows how women journeyed from the pews into the heart of the modern world.<BR>  

Das außergewöhnlichste Buch der BestsellerautorinZum 250. Geburtstag des größten deutschen Naturforschers am 14. September 2019 legt die preisgekrönte Humboldtexpertin Andrea Wulf ein farbenprächtiges, opulent illustriertes Buch über Humboldts berühmte Südamerikaexpedition vor. Angeregt von seinen Tagebüchern, Kupferstichen, Skizzen, Landkarten und präparierten Pflanzen erzählt sie die Geschichte seiner Reise aus einer völlig neuen Perspektive: anhand Humboldts eigener Tagebuchaufzeichnungen, die erst vor kurzem zugänglich gemacht wurden. Die expressiven Zeichnungen der New Yorker Illustratorin Lillian Melcher fangen Szenen der Expedition ein, etwa die waghalsige Fahrt auf dem Orinoko oder die spektakuläre Besteigung des Chimborazo. 'Die Abenteuer des Alexander von Humboldt' berichten von Mühsal, Gefahren, Begeisterung und Entdeckungen, aber auch von Humboldts Begegnungen mit der indigenen Bevölkerung Südamerikas und seinen Warnungen vor dem vom Menschen verursachten Klimawandel. Wissenschaft trifft Abenteuer: Jede Seite in diesem ganz besonderen Buch zum Humboldt-Jubiläumsjahr ist eine sinnliche Entdeckungsreise.

"Die Zahl der unglücklichen Einwohner ist erheblich zurückgegangen."<BR>Pietro Martire d'Anghiera (1530)<BR><BR>Vor 500 Jahren landete unter dem Oberbefehl des spanischen Hidalgos Hernán Cortés eine Flottille an der Küste von Yukatan. Lautete das Ziel der Expedition offiziell, für den christlichen Glauben zu missionieren, so wussten doch alle Beteiligten, dass es in erster Linie um Gold und die Jagd auf Sklaven ging. Stefan Rinke international renommierter Forscher auf dem Gebiet der Geschichte Lateinamerikas schildert in diesem Buch spannend und differenziert die Eroberung Mexikos und den Untergang des Aztekenreichs.<BR><BR>Vor 500 Jahren brach unter dem Ansturm der spanischen Eroberer und ihrer indigenen Verbündeten das mächtige Reich der Azteken zusammen, dessen Wohlstand und militärische Stärke ganz Mesoamerika überstrahlte. In seiner Hauptstadt Tenochtitlan gab es öffentliche Gebäude, Parks, prächtige Paläste und Tempel größer noch als die Kathedrale von Sevilla, wie der Conquistador Hernán Cortés in einem Brief an Kaiser Karl V. staunend berichtete. Doch wie konnte eine Handvoll spanischer Landedelmänner und Abenteurer auf der Suche nach Ruhm und Reichtum diese alte Hochkultur zu Fall bringen? Stefan Rinke bietet in seiner spannenden Darstellung eine neue Interpretation der Vorgänge, die zur Eroberung Mexikos führten. Er zeigt, dass es nicht nur die von den Europäern eingeschleppten Krankheiten oder der Glaube der Azteken an eine Wiederkehr der Götter waren, die den Conquistadoren in die Hände spielten. Vielmehr nutzten die Spanier geschickt die Rivalitäten zwischen den zahlreichen indigenen Stadtstaaten aus und verbündeten sich mit jenen, die nicht länger bereit waren, Tribute an die verhassten Azteken zu entrichten. Jenseits oft wiederholter Mythen entsteht so ein differenziertes Bild eines bis heute wirkmächtigen historischen Geschehens.