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Teófilo Ruiz is a distinguished professor in the UCLA departments of History, Spanish and Portuguese. In 2012, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal for his work on the cultural and social history of Medieval and Early Modern Europe. He is the author of the book The Terror of History :On the Uncertainties of Life in Western Civilization. In this book, Ruiz reflects on Western humanity's efforts to escape from history and its terrors—from the existential condition and natural disasters to the endless succession of wars and other man-made catastrophes. His other books include A King Travels: Festive Traditions in Late Medieval and Early Modern Spain (Princeton University Press, 2012), Diario de la expedición de Fray Junipero Serra...en 1769 co-edited with Angel Encinas (Madrid, 2011), and From Heaven to Earth: The Reordering of Castilian Society, 1150-1350 (Princeton University Press, 2004).

On March 18, Dr. Teófilo Ruiz will present: “The Terror of History: Reflections on Colonial Experiences in the New World.' This talk will explore some of the ways in which humans have dealt with catastrophe throughout history. Using examples of the encounter between the Old World and the New in the Caribbean and the valley of Mexico, this presentation wishes to recreate the consequences of conquest and dependency and the manner in which the colonized dealt with their condition.