The purpose of this paper is to examine the process of building the idea of Latin America, that is, the emergence of the concept and its symbolism in the perspective of modernity. The chronology includes from the colonial period to the context of consolidation of the term Latin America in the late nineteenth century. It discusses the creation of the name - Latin America - and its prevalence compared to other terms used to define a continental identity, such as Hispanoamerica, Indoamerica, Ibero-America, among others, from the Uruguayan philosopher Arturo Ardao awnalytical perspective, while, however, collating it with work of other experts.
Latin America; identity; historiographical debate