Latin America since independence : two centuries of continuity and change Colonial Roots Independence and Its Challenges 1790s 1870s Exports Oligarchies and Yankees 1870s 1930 Revolution Depression and Cold War 1930 1959 Revolution and Reaction 1959 2000 Contemporary Latin America 2000 Present. This book offers an innovative thematic approach to the history of Latin America since independence. It traces continuity and change in colonial legacies showing how crucial they have been in shaping contemporary political systems economies societies and religious institutions in a richly diverse region