Course Materials:

• What do we mean by Mesoamerican? What do we mean by Civilization?
• Ancient Mesoamerica
• Mesoamerican Culture Map
• Mesoamerican Environment Map
• Chronological Chart with Sites/Periods
• The Early Hunters
• From Hunting & Gathering to Farming
• Early Mesoamerican Villages
• San Jose Mogote - Case Studies
• Introduction to the Olmec
• Midterm study guide
• "Coming to America" (Clovis film)-- Watch online!
• Teotihuacan: From Pre-Classic to Classic
• The Popol Vuh
• Ka'kaw and the Pochteca
• Mesoamerican Ballgame
  • www.ballgame.org
• The Ruta Puuc: Mayapan, Sayil, Labna
• Cracking the Maya Code
• Yucatecan Sites: Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum

In this class, we will survey the ancient civilizations of Mexico as they have been documented through archaeological and anthropological research. The course covers cultures ranging from the early Formative to the Postclassic periods (1500 B.C. to 1530 A.D.) and includes studies of the Olmec, the Maya and the Aztec, with particular emphasis on Maya civilization.

We will also use historical evidence as a guide to understanding "daily life" among these groups. This includes explorations into foodways and folklore, particularly within the Yucatan peninsula.