What is a “social biography”?
Typically when one thinks of biography, they think of a prominent person. For example, there have been hundreds of biographies about Abraham Lincoln. But a social biography is something a bit different. The purpose of social biography is not to give explicit, concrete detail about a singular person who actually lived, but instead to explore a social context by imagining what it might be like for an “ordinary” person in that society.
Please Note: Do not select a known historical figure like Montezuma, Cortes, Columbus, Bartolome de las Casas, etc.
Essay Prompt
For this assignment, you are required to write an account of what life might have been like for someone living in the early colonial period of Latin American history (basically anything we’ve covered so far). Using what you know about the social and cultural context of this period, write a short biography of an anonymous person. The perspective you choose is up to you, as long as it is historically plausible. You may use your imagination to some degree, but the goal of this exercise is to get you to reflect on what life would have been like for a specific “type” of a person living in a certain place at a certain time. Naturally, you will have to make some generalizations in this process, but you are also allowed to make individual choices too based on what you know about the society/culture you are unpacking. Be as creative/imaginative as possible while at the same time including clear and relevant historical facts and data.
Examples
For example, you might decide to write your social biography about one of the following, although you are not limited to these ideas. Please reach out to your instructor if you have any questions or concerns.
A European/creole conquistador, merchant, priest, nun, government official, etc.
An indigenous priest, laborer, soldier, leader, etc.
An African enslaved laborer, escaped slave living in a quilombo, freed African, etc.
Mestizo or other mixed-race individual and their experiences
Experience of a woman in a marriage, or courting, or a daughter, or a nun, etc.
Experience of a child
Social Biography – Example Introductions
First person (Spanish conquistador)
I have seen much in a short time. Since our arrival in this new world, I have seen all manner of strange things. The native people are perhaps the most surprising. I have fought the Moors for much of my life, and so believed that I had seen the limits of exotic people. But these people are something different entirely. I cannot believe that their buildings are as tall as those of Europe, yet they seem to have not but a fraction of the tools that we do. Yet when I walked among the temples of Tenochtitlan, I felt the same sense of power that I felt walking in the cathedrals of Madrid. But the power here is a dark one, for these people worship the devil and do unspeakable acts to appease him…
Third person (indigenous female, wife of a miner)
The life of a miner in the early colonial period of New Spain was certainly difficult, but it might have been even more difficult for a wife of a miner. Her life would have been marked by many expectations made upon her. Firstly, she was expected to be a “good” wife and mother, meaning that her role was to manage the household. For the wife of a miner, who would be forced to work long hours, this meant the woman was responsible for nearly everything in her life but was also hindered legally and socially due to her status as a woman…
Nuts and Bolts
Your paper must be 4-5 pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12 point. Times New Roman, Arial, or Garamond).
You must use at least one scholarly source besides your textbook, and provide a citation of the source at the end of your paper. The inclusion of this source should meet the following criteria:
No direct quotes- but when you paraphrase information please use a Turabian style footnote.
See the Maryville University LibGuidefor how to do this.
See Purdue OWL online for how to do this.
This paper is worth 10% of your final grade; this paper will be graded out of 100 pointsWhat is a “social biography”?
Typically when one thinks of biography, they think of a prominent person. For example, there have been hundreds of biographies about Abraham Lincoln. But a social biography is something a bit different. The purpose of social biography is not to give explicit, concrete detail about a singular person who actually lived, but instead to explore a social context by imagining what it might be like for an “ordinary” person in that society.
Please Note: Do not select a known historical figure like Montezuma, Cortes, Columbus, Bartolome de las Casas, etc.
Essay Prompt
For this assignment, you are required to write an account of what life might have been like for someone living in the early colonial period of Latin American history (basically anything we’ve covered so far). Using what you know about the social and cultural context of this period, write a short biography of an anonymous person. The perspective you choose is up to you, as long as it is historically plausible. You may use your imagination to some degree, but the goal of this exercise is to get you to reflect on what life would have been like for a specific “type” of a person living in a certain place at a certain time. Naturally, you will have to make some generalizations in this process, but you are also allowed to make individual choices too based on what you know about the society/culture you are unpacking. Be as creative/imaginative as possible while at the same time including clear and relevant historical facts and data.
Examples
For example, you might decide to write your social biography about one of the following, although you are not limited to these ideas. Please reach out to your instructor if you have any questions or concerns.
A European/creole conquistador, merchant, priest, nun, government official, etc.
An indigenous priest, laborer, soldier, leader, etc.
An African enslaved laborer, escaped slave living in a quilombo, freed African, etc.
Mestizo or other mixed-race individual and their experiences
Experience of a woman in a marriage, or courting, or a daughter, or a nun, etc.
Experience of a child
Social Biography – Example Introductions
First person (Spanish conquistador)
I have seen much in a short time. Since our arrival in this new world, I have seen all manner of strange things. The native people are perhaps the most surprising. I have fought the Moors for much of my life, and so believed that I had seen the limits of exotic people. But these people are something different entirely. I cannot believe that their buildings are as tall as those of Europe, yet they seem to have not but a fraction of the tools that we do. Yet when I walked among the temples of Tenochtitlan, I felt the same sense of power that I felt walking in the cathedrals of Madrid. But the power here is a dark one, for these people worship the devil and do unspeakable acts to appease him…
Third person (indigenous female, wife of a miner)
The life of a miner in the early colonial period of New Spain was certainly difficult, but it might have been even more difficult for a wife of a miner. Her life would have been marked by many expectations made upon her. Firstly, she was expected to be a “good” wife and mother, meaning that her role was to manage the household. For the wife of a miner, who would be forced to work long hours, this meant the woman was responsible for nearly everything in her life but was also hindered legally and socially due to her status as a woman…
Nuts and Bolts
Your paper must be 4-5 pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12 point. Times New Roman, Arial, or Garamond).
You must use at least one scholarly source besides your textbook, and provide a citation of the source at the end of your paper. The inclusion of this source should meet the following criteria:
No direct quotes- but when you paraphrase information please use a Turabian style footnote.
See the Maryville University LibGuidefor how to do this.
See Purdue OWL online for how to do this.
This paper is worth 10% of your final grade; this paper will be graded out of 100 points
