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Home , Mesoamerica

Ancient of Mesoamerica ANTH S233 ARCG S233

Professor Oswaldo Chinchilla Summer, 2021

[email protected]

Office hours: By appointment.

An archaeological excavation at , , 2015

The names Maya, Aztec, Olmec evoke images of ancient peoples who built enormous , created intricate artwork, and devised elaborate mechanisms to record and explain the passage of and the movements of the planets. Their ruined attract millions of visitors, who wonder about their bygone splendor, probe the remains of their creators, and search for hidden knowledge in the hieroglyphic inscriptions. However, the superlatives that are often applied to ancient Mesoamerican peoples mask a misunderstanding of their true achievements.

Mesoamerica was one of the few of the world where created a complex without substantial contact with other regions. As such, it provides an important model for the study of the ways in which societies developed settled lifeways and , social stratification, and , cities and empires. More than a century of research has revealed a wealth of information about these ancient peoples, generating scientific explanations of the economic, social and cultural processes that shaped their life and culture.

This course explores the culture history of Mesoamerica, with emphasis on current debates and queries. Students will be introduced to new discoveries, theoretical and methodological insights, and advances in the interpretation of writing and symbolic systems that challenge traditional interpretations. The course also explores the links with contemporary peoples of and , who preserve significant aspects of ancient Mesoamerican cultural traditions.

Requirements

Summaries based on reading assignments: 30% (6 summaries, 5% each) Digital Mesoamerica presentation: 10% Special topic presentation: 10% Participation in class: 20% Term paper: 30%

1 Reading Summaries: The reading summaries will be based on the textbook chapters indicated in the syllabus. The summaries should be one single-spaced page long and should not simply copy and paste phrases from readings. Students should attempt to summarize the content and pick out the important concepts. The responses will not be graded for writing and grammar but must demonstrate you carefully read each reading. Summaries due every other class beginning on Friday, June 11.

Special Topic Presentations a 15-minute discussion based on a special topic reading. A list of topics and sources will be provided. All students must read the assigned sources and be ready to discuss them.

Digital Mesoamerica Presentations Select a digital resource available online and prepare to explain it to the class and lead the discussion about it. A list of topics will be provided.

Term Paper The term papers will be based on bibliographic research about specific topics related to the course. Topics must be approved by the instructor by the third week of class. Required length: 3000 words.

Attendance and participation in all class sessions is required. Appropriate justification must be submitted in case of absence.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core institutional value at Yale. It means, among other things, truth in presentation, diligence and precision in citing works and ideas we have used, and acknowledging our collaborations with others. In view of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, the Yale College Programs of Study specifically prohibit the following forms of behavior: cheating on examinations, problem sets and all other forms of assessment; falsification and/or fabrication of data; plagiarism, that is, the failure to acknowledge ideas, research, or taken from others; and multiple submission of the same work without obtaining explicit written permission from both instructors before the material is submitted. See Yale College Undergraduate Regulations: http://catalog.yale.edu/undergraduate-regulations/policies/definitions-plagiarism- cheating/ Students found guilty of violations of academic integrity are subject to one or more of the following penalties: written reprimand, probation, suspension (noted on a student’s transcript) or dismissal (noted on a student’s transcript).

2 Required textbook:

Coe, Michael D., Javier Urcid, and Rex Koontz (2019) Mexico: From the Olmec to the Aztec. Thames & Hudson, London.

Additional sections and articles will be provided.

Recommended:

Coe, Michael D. (2011) The Maya. Eighth edition. Thames & Hudson, London.

Hendon, Julia A., and Rosemary A. Joyce (2004) Mesoamerican : Theory and practice. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, .

Blake, Michael (2015) for the Gods: Unearthing the 9,000-Year History of Corn. University of California Press, Oakland.

Preliminary class schedule

Week 1 Introduction Mesoamerican lifeways Early settlements Agricultural origins and the of maize Transportation and Lithic technologies and ethnicities

Special topics The domestication of maize Early monumentality

Week 2 Mesoamerican societies Cities and urban life Social stratification Tributary and market economies The question of slavery Political interaction Warfare

Special topics Classic Maya Urban life at

3 Week 3 , writing, and Architecture, , and painting , figurines, Music and performance Writing systems and the Religion and the gods Human

Special topics The codices The stone

Week 4 History of Mesoamerican civilizations The Olmec Monte Albán and Oaxacan civilizations Teotihuacan Classic Epiclassic and Early Postclassic cities The

Special topics Finding a Zapotec tomb LiDAR survey in the Maya Lowlands

Week 5 The Spanish invasion and its aftermath Conquest or invasion? Mesoamerican conquerors The Spanish colonial system Modern Mesoamerican communities

Student project presentations

Special topics The Indigenous conquerors

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