Resumen

OSORIO, Leonardo  y  BALBUENA, Carolina. Latin America seen from the eurocentric paradigm: An analysis of universal history textbooks. Tiempo y Espacio [online]. 2013, vol.23, n.60, pp.39-58. ISSN 1315-9496.

The objective of this research is to make a historiographical analyze about eight grade universal history textbooks, in order to reveal the concepts, epistemic paradigms and interpretations made about Latin American societies. Universal history is related to an eurocentric vision in which Europe is the alpha and omega of every historical process as the only valid model of civilization development for the humanity. Therefore there is no culture of otherness and respect to different cultural ways of organization. So, Latin American societies appear in universal history when contact with the West, prevailing the colonialist vision of America. To make this research, it was used the historical method with its basic operations of analysis, synthesis, and historical criticism to show the historiographical weaknesses. Likewise, it was used hermeneutics that allows the interpretation of texts, and the analog-comparative method to determine the similarities and differences found in textbooks. It is concluded how Latin America is seen contemptuously and decontextualized, are obviated many of its processes because they are not related to Western history, so the teaching of universal history plays a thought structure in which Europe is the only valid society model, so Latin American societies play a passive, contemptuous and subordinate rol in the world, because they are different.

Palabras clave : textbooks; eurocentrism; Latin America; universal history.

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