Cosío Villegas' Historia moderna de México

HIS is an age of academic specialization-by disciplines and within them. Scholars in large measure devote their energies to monographic studies covering narrow subjects and limited periods of history to provide the required elements for more general synthesized and analytical recreations of the past. A work which combines both phases-monographic research and a broad sweep over a long period of a nation's history-requires not only scholarly talents and effort but organizational ability as well. Daniel Coslo Villegas' multivolume 1Iistoria modernc de Mexico is such a work, and when the final volume is completed, it will be a landmark in Latin American historiography.' The logical procedure for such an evaluation is to understand the goal which Cosio Villegas set for himself and his associates and then to judge the extent to which they have realized it. The group's plan of work, definition of terms, and method of operation are set forth in the Llamada general which serves as an introduction to the initial volume of the series. Here the author explains decisions relative to time limits, periodization, material to be covered, and the structure and dimensions of his work. In his own words, he determined :2

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