Although largely sharing a common past and language, the countries in Latin America remain distinct entities with their own identities. Latin America since 1780 provides a continental-based historical narrative which stresses the common themes between countries like Mexico in North America to Argentina in the Southern Cone, while at the same time highlighting their specific national contexts. This book focuses on key events such as the Mexican-American War, the Cuban Revolution, and the overthrow of Salvador Allende's government, as well as providing short inserts on the main political protagonists such as Simon Bolívar, Getulio Vargas and the Subcomandante Marcos. This new edition has been fully updated to include recent events and trends including Hugo Chávez's 'Bolivarian Revolution' in Venezuela, Evo Morales' electoral victory in Bolivia, and the so-called Pink Tide that has resulted in the emergence of a variety of socialist-leaning governments in the region. At the same time, the book discusses Latin America's cultural diversity, paying particular attention to the response of writers and film makers to the historical contexts covered in the book. A range of pedagogical devices and a lively prose style makes this book the ideal introduction to Latin American history. Written in an accessible style and assuming no prior knowledge, the books in this series address the specific needs of students on language courses, as well as anyone with an interest in modern history. Approaching the study of history via contemporary politics and society, each book offers a clear historical narrative and sets the country or region concerned in the context of the wider world.