Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano - 1585 Words

Since it was first discovered by European explorers, Latin America has supplied raw materials and labor to Europe and other locations around the world. Eduardo Galeano writes about the exploitation of native Latin Americans in his 1973 book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. Galeano takes a historical approach and examines colonial and post-colonial interactions between Europeans and Latin Americans. He asserts that the native Latin Americans were essentially powerless to fight this exploitation because of the dominance of the European powers. In his 2008 book Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug, Paul Gootenberg writes about the discovery of cocaine and its transition from a regional good†¦show more content†¦The European colonizers, primarily Spaniards, killed native people either by force during the invasion or indirectly via various diseases, such as â€Å"smallpox and tetanus, various lung, intestinal, and venereal dis eases, trachoma, typhus, leprosy, yellow fever, and teeth-rotting caries.†1 The natives who survived the invasion and the diseases were forced to work in the mines that extracted silver and other precious raw materials for the Spanish crown. Galeano depicts these atrocities committed against the native Latin Americans to show the dominance of the Europeans over less powerful countries. He clearly supports World Systems Theory through his emphasis on two tiers of power in the world economic state. This theory, also known as Dependency Theory, was developed by Andrà © Gunder Frank; it suggests that all economic activity in the world marketplace is divided into two major groups of countries: the core and the periphery. The core constitutes the more dominant economic force and relies on the periphery for raw materials and relatively cheap labor. The periphery, on the other hand, is less economically independent and depends on the core for processed goods and economic decisi ons related to the raw materials it produces. In relation to the colonial period, Galeano views Europe as the core and Latin America, among other locations, as the periphery. He writes, in relation to theShow MoreRelatedOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano Essay2023 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Open Veins of Latin America† by Eduardo Galeano primarily focuses on historical events following the â€Å"discovery† and colonization of Latin America. This book however, unlike many others has very distinct and contrasting ideas. In his historical piece, Galeano incorporates many peculiar ideas that have since caused controversy following the publishing of the book in the year 1973. As we examine the cover, the subtitle (â€Å"Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent†) gives us an antecedent of ourRead MoreOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano1734 Words   |  7 Pageshistory of Latin America and the influence that European powers had on the Ame ricas. One of the many books written that has discussed the various aspects of Latin American history is the book, Open Veins of Latin America written by Eduardo Galeano. In his book, Eduardo Galeano reviewed the influences that European powers had in Latin America. The majority of the book focused on the ways in which countries in Latin America were exploited throughout their history. The overarching theme of Eduardo Galeano’sRead MoreOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano2063 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Open Veins of Latin America†, by Eduardo Galeano tells the story of the history of both Latin America and parts of the Caribbean throughout the years and their struggle with poverty and the powers who exploited the countries throughout their existence from the day they were conquer by Europeans and as the years went by. The book begins with the history of the conquest of the new land and the search for both gold and silver, how the Europeans enslaved of the Native Americans and how their populationRead MoreEssay on Latin American Veins are Still Open and Wounded1584 Words   |  7 PagesOctober 4, 2013 Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent Book Review Latin American Veins are Still Open and Wounded Open Veins of Latin America is the book to remember. Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano is responsible for the creation of this relevant and controversial masterpiece, which follows the history of Latin America and the Caribbean through centuries of struggle against poverty and those imperial powers who abused of Latin American resourcesRead MoreEssay on Latin American Dictatorship872 Words   |  4 PagesLatin American Dictatorship It is impossible to separate the history of military dictatorships in Latin America from the history of economic exploitation and of US intervention in the region. The history of slavery and other forced labor in the pursuit of large-scale agriculture and resource extraction in the time of the colonies has created a legacy of economic exploitation. This poverty and inequality has in many cases led to popular uprisings and calls for reform, which provided the reasonRead MoreThe Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade Influence Europe Economic Growth And Market Development Essay786 Words   |  4 Pagesinvolved in all three sides of the triangle trade that allowed the transportation of slaves from Europe to Africa where goods were traded for slaves and then those slaves were brought to the Americas for the cultivation food crops and other raw materials; these later were brought back to Europe, Africa and the Americas to be sold. Resistance and revolts against the trade of slave was stronge r in African areas where european demographic power was lower but â€Å"It was not until 1780s that increasing europeanRead MoreThe Lexus And The Olive Tree1118 Words   |  5 PagesDistinguishing between liberalism and political economic parts between â€Å"The Lexus and Olive Tree† and the â€Å"Open veins of Latin America† according to these two writers they both distinguish the concept about the future. The two writer view globalization and how it will benefit the countries. Political economics is the branch of knowledge discipline. In the two book capitalism is the trade and industry that is controlled by private owners for profit as being done so by the countries. The two booksRead MoreThe Inequality Of Latin America1673 Words   |  7 Pagesand fields and who served them, too, at table and in bed† (Chasteen 5). Many people would say this is where inequality in Latin America began, with colonization. However, colonization is just a small piece of the ro ots of inequality of the region, which actually started with the natives of the lands such as the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans. These three empires ruled most of the Latin American region and did so by conquering other native groups or tribes. The Empires had a ruling class or king that wasRead MoreThe Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics1412 Words   |  6 Pagesname of Eduardo Galeano writes about this concept of inclusion through writing in his book Open Veins of Latin America. He makes the argument that the reason authors write is to make sure that underrepresented voices are heard. In his words, â€Å"One writes, in reality, for the people whose luck or misfortune one identifies with - the hungry, the sleepless, the rebels, and the wretched of this earth - and the majority of them are illiterate. (p.12 Galeano)[3]. It is authors like Galeano describesRead MoreThe cure for ills of Democracy is More Democracy2828 Words   |  12 Pagesissues has become harder because we dont have th e necessary means to do it. Public opinion just simply does not exist because media is privatized and only represents an elite group. It is necessary to look at the case of North America from the outside. Comparing North America with Europe we can observe the big difference in the independent media. Independent media is not common in the US and it has to keep a low profile if it wants to exist. The majority of Television Networks have to be associated