A History of Chile, 1808-2002

A History of Chile chronicles the nation’s political, social, and economic
evolution from its independence until the early years of the Lagos regime.
Employing primary and secondary materials, it explores the growth of
Chile’s agricultural economy, during which the large landed estates appeared; the nineteenth-century wheat and mining booms; the rise of the
nitrate mines; their replacement by copper mining; and the diversification of the nation’s economic base. This volume also traces Chile’s political
development from oligarchy to democracy, culminating in the election of
Salvador Allende, his overthrow by a military dictatorship, and the return of
popularly elected governments. Additionally, the volume examines Chile’s
social and intellectual history: the process of urbanization, the spread of
education and public health, the diminution of poverty, the creation of a
rich intellectual and literary tradition, the experiences of middle and lower
classes, and the development of Chile’s unique culture.
Simon Collier (1938–2003) was a professor of history at Vanderbilt University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Latin American
history, including Tango!: The Dance, the Song, the Story (1997) and Chile:
The Making of a Republic, 1830–1865 (Cambridge, 2003).
William F. Sater is Emeritus Professor of History at California State University in Long Beach. He has published six books, edited and co-edited two
others, and written numerous articles that have appeared in Chile, Great
Britain, the United States, Italy, and Mexico.

História