Christopher Minster Professor of History and Literature Education Ph.D., Spanish, Ohio State University M.A., Spanish, University of Montana B.A., Spanish, Penn State University Introduction Professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in EquadorSpecialist in Latin American literature and history with a Ph.D. in Spanish from Ohio State UniversityFormer head writer at VIVA Travel Guides, who co-authored and edited numerous travel guidebooks Experience Christopher W. Minster, Ph.D., is a former ThoughtCo writer who contributed articles about Latin American history and culture for eight years. He is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Equador.Christopher was the head writer at VIVA Travel Guides, where he co-authored and edited numerous travel books, including "VIVA Travel Guides Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Guidebook," 7th Edition (2014), and "VIVA Travel Guides Lima, Peru," 3rd Edition (2010), as well as a collection of travel stories from different writers around the world, called "The Viva List Latin America: 333 Places and Experiences People Love" (2007).A specialist in Latin American literature and history, Christopher wrote his Ph.D. dissertation about the colonial era in the Americas. He also worked as a teaching assistant for six years at Ohio State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Spanish in 2005. Christopher served two years in the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala, working in rural youth development in Huehuetenango. Education Christopher earned his Bachelor's (B.A.) in Spanish from Penn State University and Master's (M.A.) in Spanish from the University of Montana. He received his Ph.D. in Spanish from Ohio State University.Awards and Publications"VIVA Travel Guides Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Guidebook," 7th Edition (2014)"VIVA Travel Guides Lima, Peru," 3rd Edition (2010)"The Viva List Latin America: 333 Places and Experiences People Love" (2007) ThoughtCo and Dotdash Meredith ThoughtCo, a Dotdash Meredith brand, is an award-winning reference site offering education content created by experts. ThoughtCo reaches 13 million readers each month. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines. Read more from Christopher Minster The U.S. Occupation of Haiti From 1915 to 1934 15 Facts About the Battle of the Alamo Timeline of Hernan Cortes' Conquest of the Aztecs The Truth About Christopher Columbus The Facts and History of Cinco de Mayo Important Dates in Mexican History Biography of Malinche, Enslaved Woman and Interpreter to Hernán Cortés Biography of James 'Jim' Bowie The Death of Emperor Montezuma Mexican Involvement in World War II The History of Latin America in the Colonial Era How Latin America Gained Independence from Spain Economy and Trade of the Ancient Mayans The First New World Voyage of Christopher Columbus (1492) Causes of the Latin American Revolution Armor and Weapons of the Spanish Conquistadors Why Argentina Accepted Nazi War Criminals After World War II Spain and the New Laws of 1542 10 Notable Spanish Conquistadors Throughout History The Battle of Gonzales Where is El Dorado? 10 Facts About the Spanish Conquistadors 10 Facts About Pirates 10 Facts About the Conquest of the Inca Empire