In this course we will explore the project of colonialism in l7th century America, focusing our attention on strategies for reading and understanding various modes and moments of contact between European and Amerindian cultures. We will begin with an examination of Spanish conquest and settlement of the southwest. Drawing on the work of such critics as Jose Rabasa and Rolena Adorno, these regions will be studied as zones of transculturation between Amerindian and Spanish cultures. We will then turn our attention to the English colonies of the eastern seaboard, focusing primarily on Virginia and New England. Our approach will be varied. We will read primary texts, including historical accounts, maps, and traveler’s portfolios; we will also consider visual and material artifacts, demographic analyses, town plans and other aspects of material culture.