James Lockhart, University of California, Los Angeles

List of tables, figures and maps
Preface
Part I. The Context:
1. Iberian ways
2. Indigenous ways
Part II. Origins and Early Maturity:
3. From islands to mainland: the Caribbean phase and subsequent conquests
4. Conquest society: central areas
5. Maturity in the Spanish Indies: central areas
6. Brazilian beginnings
7. Brazil in the sugar cane
8. The fringes
Part III. Reorientations:
9. Late colonial times in the Spanish Indies
10. Brazil in the age of gold and absolutism
11. Epilogue: the coming of independence
Bibliography
Index.

Very comprehensive but with a conversational tone that makes it easy reading. I especially like how the authors directly acknowledge gaps in the historical record and address concepts that need further research before they can really comment. It's that kind of modesty (as compared to jumping to conclusions or speculation) that sets this book above a lot of scholarly history that I've read.