Anthropology E-175Mesoamerican Civilizations

Fall 2007

Lectures take place: Tuesday & Thursday at 11:00am in Room 14A, First Floor, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Lecture videos are posted within 48 hours of each class meeting, though usually they are up the same day.

Extension School Distance Education Course:This course is being offered as part of the Harvard Extension School's Distance Education Program. The recorded lectures that you will view are from the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences course Foreign Cultures 34, Mesoamerican Civilizations, and this course meets two times per week throughout the term. While these are recorded lectures, the other aspects of the course are "live." This means that you are responsible for homework, exams and all other work. There will also be weekly online or on-campus section meetings or office hours (details yet to be determined) for students who wish to attend. Distance Education students are welcome to attend the lectures in person as well if their schedule and location permits.

Please see the Harvard Extension School distance education web site for information on the distance ed program, details on how to view lectures and for technical support. The link is: http://www.extension.harvard.edu/DistanceEd/

Professor: Dr. David CarrascoDivinity Hall 304Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2-4Email: tlaloc@hds.harvard.edu

Teaching Fellows: Dylan Clark 42C Mesoamerican Lab4th Floor, Peabody MuseumOffice Hours: Mondays, 2-4Email: djclark@fas.harvard.edu617-495-0607

María-Cristina VlassidisHarvard Divinity SchoolOffice Hours: TBAEmail: cvlassidis@hds.harvard.edu

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Tina Warinner 58H Archaeological Biogeochemistry Laboratory5th Floor, Peabody MuseumOffice Hours: TBAEmail: warinner@fas.harvard.edu

Course Description:This course highlights the distinctive features of the dynamic, still evolving cultural traditions of Mesoamerica, one of the oldest living civilizations in the world. Combining the perspectives of archaeology, social anthropology and the history of religions we will focus on the notions of place, body and imagination to explore the history of cities, civilization, colonialism and collapse in the social life ways of Mesoamerican peoples. Our work will include readings, lectures and museum visits on the daily life of Aztec and Maya peoples with special attention to their religion, ritual sacrifices, gendered attitudes, arts, cultural and imperial traditions. Significant attention will be given to the history of European colonialism, transculturation, race mixture and local resistance as expressed through art and politics. Some attention will also be directed toward the immigration of Mesoamerican ideas, peoples and practices into the US.

Foreign Cultures 34 allows you to appreciate the breadth and depth of Mesoamerican civilizations through lectures, exposure in section to icons, manuscripts, and artifacts in the collections of the Peabody Museum, readings on Precolumbian, Colonial, and modern-day cultures, and publications by prominent Maya writers involved in social movements to promote self-determination in the 21st century. A holistic, anthropological approach is employed that allows you to make use of critical thinking in your evaluation of early historical accounts, archaeological investigations of preceding cultural traditions, the Colonial period and more recent texts and images, to understand the ethos and adaptations of these enduring civilizations.  This perspective enables us to understand Mesoamerican cultures as dynamic, fluid, and creative, constantly being transformed as circumstances warrant, yet retaining their own distinctive outlooks and styles.

Grading:Section Attendance and Participation: 10%

Short writing assignment: 5 pgs, 15%

Midterm Exam, 20%

Research Paper, 10-15 pgs, 30%

Final Exam, 25%

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Required Textbooks:

Carrasco, Davíd2000 Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire: Myths and Prophecies in

the AztecTradition. Revised edition. Boulder: University Press of Colorado.

Clendinnen, Inga1995 Aztecs: An Interpretation. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press.

Diaz del Castillo, Bernal2004 The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, 1517-1521. 2nd edition.

Translated by A.P. Maudslay. Cambridge: Da Capo Press.

Menchú, Rigoberta1984 I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala. Elisabeth

BurgosDebray (ed. and introduction). Translated by Ann Wright.

London: Verso.

Pohl, John1999 Exploring Mesoamerica: Places in Time

New York: Oxford University Press

Tedlock, Dennis1996 Popol Vuh: the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life. Revised edition.

Translated by Dennis Tedlock. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Available on-line and on reserve:

2001 Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures (OEMC) selections, edited by

David Carrasco, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Part 1 Cities and Symbols of Mesoamerican Civilizations

Tues. Sept 18 th Introduction: What is “Mesoamerica” in Space, Time and the

Imagination?

Readings: Davíd Carrasco, “Preface” from The Oxford Encyclopedia of

Mesoamerican Cultures pp.ix-xii

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Thur. Sept. 20 th Encountering Mesoamerican Places, Bodies, Myths Readings: Bernal Díaz del Castillo, The Conquest of Mexico, pp. 3-68, & 187-214.

Rigoberta Menchú, I, Rigoberta Menchú, pp. 1-20. Carrasco, “Introduction: Mosaics and Centers” from Quetzalcoatl

andthe Irony of Empire. Popul Vuh, p. 71-76

Tues. Sept 25 th Foundations and Formative Mesoamerica: Cities and Exchange

Readings: John Pohl, “Introduction” & “La Venta” from Exploring Mesoamerica.

Alfredo Lopez Austin, “Cosmovision” pp. 268-274 OEMC David Grove, “Olmec”, OEMC, vol II, pp. 405-409

Thurs. Sept 27 th Mother Culture or Sister Cultures? What is Civilization Anyway?

Readings: Pohl, “Izapa”, “Monte Alban”. Peter Bellwood, “Early Agriculture in the Americas” pp.

146-159 (S)S = reading from the sourcebookMenchú, First Visit to Finca” pp. 21-27 & chaps. 5,6 in I, Rigoberta Menchú

*Mesoamerican Symbol of the Week: Cleft Heads and Maize

Tues. Oct 2 Classic Teotihuacan: Cities of the Gods

Readings: Pohl, “Teotihuacan”, “Tikal”. Carrasco, “Teotihuacan: Imperial Capital” in

Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire

Thurs. Oct 4 Exchanges and Receptions: Teo and the Maya

(Guest Speaker Dr. William Fash)

Readings: William Fash, “Teotihuacan and the Maya” & “Maya” (S) Pohl, “Copan” Popul Vuh, pp. 63-88

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*Mesoamerican Symbol of the Week: Ruler on the Hieroglyphic Stairway—Peabody Museum

Tues. Oct. 9 The Mesoamerican Epiclassic: Greater Tollans and the Feathered Serpent

Readings: Carrasco, “Quetzalcoatl and the Foundation of Tollan” & “Other

Tollans” in Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire. Pohl “Tula”, “Cholula”

Thurs. Oct. 11 Postclassic Empires: Tenochtitlan and the Hearts of the Mountains

Readings: Pohl, “Tenochtitlan” Carrasco, “The Sources: From Storybook to Encyclopedia”

&“Return of Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire” in

Quetzalcoatland the Irony of EmpireMills and Taylor,”Aztec Stone Of the Five Suns” (S)

*Mesoamerican Symbol of the Week: The Feathered Serpent

Tues. Oct. 16 th The Discoveries of the Great Aztec Altepetl/Temple Readings: Carrasco, “History and Cosmovision”, “Religion of the Aztecs” (S)

Carrasco, “Return of Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire” in

Quetzalcoatl Diego Duran, “Chapter XXVII” (S)

*Midterm Exam (take-home) assigned

Part 2 Daily Life in Mesoamerica

Thurs. Oct 18 Altepetl, Agriculture and Cuisine

Readings: Díaz del Castillo, pp. 208-215. CD of Mapa de Cuauhtinchan Bellwood 2005, Chapter 8, pp. 146-159 (S) OEMC, “Cuisine” pp. 292-294. Susan T. Evans 2004 “Pottery Vessel Forms” pp. 119-121

(S)

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Tues. Oct. 23 Tianquitzli, Markets, Trade and Tribute

Readings: Diaz del Castillo, pp. 215-221 Images from Codex Mendoza OEMC, “Trade and Exchange” pp. 254-257 OEMC, “Merchants,” pp. 208-210 OEMC, “Markets,” pp. 168-171. Bernardino de Sahagún, “de los mercaderes” (S)

*Midterm Exam (take-home) due in lecture

Thurs. Oct 25 The Red and the Black: Eloquent Language and Powerful Writing

(Guest Speaker Dr. Marc Zender) Readings: Sahagun, “De la retorica y filosofia moral” pp. 1-5, 41-45 (S)

OEMC, “Writing Systems,” pp.338-350OEMC, “Pictorial Manuscripts” Popul Vuh

Tues Oct. 30 th Aztec Aesthetics: Arts, Poetry, Literature

Readings: Clendinnen 1991, “Aesthetics”, pp. 213-235Sahagun, pp. 67-77, 159-160, 167-69, 219-222, 237-242OEMC, “Music” , “Poetry, Songs and Prose Sources” OEMC, “Literature” pp. 133-135 OEMC, “Drama” pp. 333-337 OEMC, “Dance” pp. 305-311

Thurs. Nov. 1st Festivals and Religion: Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead

Tues. Nov. 6 Festivals and Religion: Myth and Ritual

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Readings: Clendinnen 1991, “Ritual: The World Transformed,” pp. 236-263 “Monthly Ceremonies of the Seasonal Calendar” pp. 295-297

“The Mexica Pantheon,” pp. 298-300 in Aztecs: An Interpretation

*Discuss final papers, due dates

Thurs. Nov. 8 th Warfare: A Flowery Death in Distant Lands

Readings: Clendinnen 1991, “Victims”, “Warriors, Priests, and Merchants”

“The Masculine Self Discovered” pp.87-152 in Aztecs: AnInterpretationOEMC, “Aztec Warfare”

Tues. Nov 13 th The “Conquest” of Mexico

Readings: Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Discovery and Conquest, entire book

*Final paper ideas and preliminary sources due in section

Part 3 Mesoamerica Transformed: The Cultural Encounter

Thurs. Nov. 15 th Hernan Cortes, La Malinche, and Motecuhzoma

Readings: Carrasco, chapter 5, QuetzalcoatlClendinnen 1991 “Wives,” “Mothers,” and “The Female

BeingRevealed,” pp.153-212, “Defeat,” pp. 267-273. Karttunen 1997, pp. 291-312 (S) Powers, “Colonial Sexuality”, (S)

Nov 20-22 THANKSGIVING NO CLASS

Tues. Nov. 27 th Gender: Between the Quiver and the Spindle

Readings: OEMC, “Gender Roles” pp. 427-434Burkhart 1997, pp. 25-54 (S)Mills & Taylor “Beatriz de Padilla, Mulatta Mistress and

Mother” (S)Espejo-Ponce Hunt and Restall 1997, pp. 231-254Menchú, I, Rigoberta Menchú “Introduction” chapters 1-11

*Short writing assignment assigned

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Thurs. Nov. 29 th Missionaries, Conquistadors, and Revolts

Readings: Menchú, I, Rigoberta Menchú, chapters 12-17Mills and Taylor, “Orders given to the twelve (1523)” pp.

46-51 (S)Burkhart “Evangelization, Dialogue, Rhetoric. The

MissionaryMissionized and Christinaity Conquered (S)

Tues. Dec. 4 th Local Religion: Gods, Saints, and Catechisms

Readings: Menchú, I, Rigoberta Menchú, chapters 18-22 Córdoba, “Christian Doctrine” pp. 53-61 (S)Taylor 1996, pp.265-299; pp. 47-73 (S)Womack 1999, “Chiapas, the Bishop of San Cristóbal, and

theZapatista Revolt” (S)

*Short writing assignment due

Thurs. Dec 6 th The Mesoamerican Past Today

Readings: Carrasco 2003, “Aztec Moments and Chicano Cosmovision”. Complete I, Rigoberta Menchú

David Stoll 2001, “The Battle of Rigoberta” (S)

Tues. Dec 11 th Mesoamerica Today

Readings: Stoll 2001, pp.392-401 (S)OEMC, “Guadelupe, Nuestra Señora de” pp. 444-447

Thurs. Dec 13 th Class Summary

Sourcebook Readings (S): Bellwood, Peter

2005 Early Agriculture in the Americas. In First Farmers: The Origins ofAgricultural Societies. Malden: Blackwell Publishing. pp. 146-

159.

Burkhart, Louise

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1989a Evangelization, Dialogue, Rhetoric, The Missionary Missionized, and

Christianity Conquered. In The Slippery Earth. Tuscon: University of

Arizona Press.

1997 Mexica Women on the Homefront. In Indian Women of Early Mexico.

Susan Schroeder, Stephanie Wood, and Robert Haskett (eds.). Norman:

University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 25-54.

Carrasco, David2003 Aztec Moments and Chicano Cosmovision: Aztlan Recalled to

Life. InMoctezuma’s Mexico: Visions of the Aztec World. Boulder:

UniversityPress of Colorado. pp. 175-198.

1990 History and Cosmovision and the Religion of the Aztecs. In Religions of

Mesoamerica: Cosmovision and Ceremonial Centers. Waveland Press.

pp. 51-56, 65-70.

de Córdoba, Pedro 1970 Christian Doctrine: For the Instruction and Information of the

Indians.Translated by Sterling A. Stoudemire. Coral Gables: University of

MiamiPress. pp. 53-61.

de Sahagún, Bernardino1976 De la retorica y filosofia moral. In Florentine Codex: A General

History ofthe Things of New Spain. Charles E. Dibble and Arthur J. O.

Anderson(eds. and translators). Book 6, Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy

Part VII:pp.1-5, 41-45, 67-77, 159-160, 167-169, 219-222, 237-242. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press.

1976 De los mercaderes. In Florentine Codex: A General History of the Things of New Spain. Charles E. Dibble and Arthur J. O. Anderson

(eds.

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and translators). Book 9, Monographs: The Merchants. pp.1-19, 21-25,

27-35, 37-43,69-71, 73-85, 87-97. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press.

1974 De los vicios y virtudes desta gente. In Florentine Codex: A General

History of the Things of New Spain. Charles E. Dibble and Arthur J. O.

Anderson (eds. and translators). Book 10: The People, Part XI pp. 1-33,

35-39, 41-43, 45-53, 55-57. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press.

Duran, Fray Diego1964 Chapter XXVII. In Aztecs: The History of the Indies of New Spain.

Translated and edited by Doris Heyden and Fernando Horcasitas. Orion Press. pp. 133-137.

Espejo-Ponce Hunt, Marta and Matthew Restall1997 Work, Marriage, and Status: Maya Women of Colonial Yucatan. In

IndianWomen of Early Mexico. Susan Schroeder, Stephanie Wood, and

Robert Haskett (eds.). Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp.231-252.

Evans, Susan Toby2004 Pottery Vessel Forms. In Ancient Mexico and Central America.

Pp.119-121

Fash, William L. and Barbara W. Fash2000 Teotihuacan and the Maya: A Classic Heritage. In Mesoamerica’s

ClassicHeritage: From Teotihuacan to the Aztecs. David Carrasco,

Lindsay Jonesand Scott Sessions (eds.). Boulder: University Press of Colorado. pp.433-463.

Karttunen, Frances1997 Rethinking Malinche. In Indian Women of Early Mexico. Susan

Schroeder, Stephanie Wood, and Robert Haskett (eds.). Norman:University of Oklahoma Press. pp.291-312.

Mills, Kenneth and William B. Taylor

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1998a Orders Given to the Twelve (1523). In Colonial Spanish America.

Kenneth Mills and William B. Taylor (eds.). Washington, DC: Scholarly

Review Books. pp.46-51.

1998b Aztec Stone of Five Suns. In Colonial Spanish America. Kenneth Mills

and William B. Taylor (eds.). Washington, DC: Scholarly Review Books.

pp.23-26.

1998c Beatriz de Padilla, Mulatta Mistress and Mother. In Colonial Spanish

America. Kenneth Mills and William B. Taylor (eds.). Washington, DC: Scholarly

Review Books.

Powers, Karen Viera2005 Colonial Sexuality: Of Women, Men, and Mestizaje. In Women in

theCrucible of Conquest. Santa Fe: University of New Mexico Press. pp.68-79.

Stoll, David2001 The Battle of Rigoberta. In The Rigoberta Menchú Controversy.

ArturoArias (ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 392-

410.

Taylor, William B.1996 Issues of Local Religion. In Magistrates of the Sacred: Priests and

Parishoners in 18th Century Mexico. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

pp.47-73; pp.265-299.

Womack, Jr., John1999 Chiapas, the Bishop of San Cristobal, and the Zapatista Revolt.

InRebellion in Chiapas: An Historical Reader. New Press. pp.3-30.

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