4/18/2024 8:40:13 AM	ANTHRO 31 Course Outline as of Fall 2010	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ANTHRO 31	Title:  MESOAMERICAN ORIGINS
Full Title:  Mesoamerican Origins of Latino Culture
Last Reviewed:4/25/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica as the cultural foundation for Latino American peoples in the United States today.  This class examines religious ideas, monumental architecture, art, writing systems, astronomy, calendrical systems, the nature of city and social life, agricultural and food practices, the cultural and environmental impact of Spanish contact and colonial periods, and the distribution of Mesoamerican cultural traditions throughout much of the United States today.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica as the cultural foundation for Latino American peoples in the United States today.  This class examines religious ideas, monumental architecture, art, writing systems, astronomy, calendrical systems, the nature of city and social life, agricultural and food practices, the cultural and environmental impact of Spanish contact and colonial periods, and the distribution of Mesoamerican cultural traditions throughout much of the United States today.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	E G	Humanities American Cultures/Ethnic Studies
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 2009
	C1	Arts		Fall 2007	Fall 2009
	C2	Humanities
	C1	Arts		Fall 1988	Fall 2007
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 1981
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Illustrate and evaluate the early artistic, architectural, political,

  and philosophical achievements of the indigenous cultures of

  Mesoamerica.

2. Identify and explain the ecological adaptations of indigenous cultures

   and the environmental impact of the Spanish invasion.

3. Describe and analyze the interaction among diverse cultures in ancient

  Mesoamerica.

4. Describe and analyze the continued legacy of Mesoamerican cultural

  patterns that extend into the United States today.

5. Analyze and evaluate the impact of the Spanish invasion as it relates

  to contemporary ethnic relations, especially regarding religion and

  class issues, in both the United States and contemporary Mesoamerica.

Topics and Scope

1. The Mesoamerican culture area and tradition.

2. Fluctuating borders and social geography of Mesoamerican/Latino-

  American culture in North America.

3. Hunters and gatherers: The first human settlers in Mesoamerica.

4. Agriculture and food: The development of the farming village way of

  life.

5. The Preclassic Period: The foundations of civilization; "Mother

  Culture" of the Olmecs.

6. The Classic Period: Great cities, stratified society, and the rise of

  the state.  Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Tajin, city states of the Maya.

7. The Post Classic Period: Empires and conquest. The Toltecs, Mexican

  Aztecs, and Post Classic Maya kingdoms.

8. The Spanish contact and invasion: Syncretism of cultural traditions.

9. Mesoamerican legacies: influences, contributions, and symbols in

  contemporary cultures of Mexico and Central America and the United

  States.

Assignments:

1. Students will read and study assignments in textbooks for each class

  meeting.

2. Students will write one or more papers on assigned topics.

3. Students will visit the Jesse Peter Museum to complete 2 or 3 written

   assignments based on exhibits of ancient and contemporary Mesoamerican

  cultural materials.  A minimum of 4.38 hours per semester will be required.

4. 2-4 examinations

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 25 - 33%
Written homework, Reading reports, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 67 - 75%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, Geography/Identification, Essay exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Ancient Maya.   Sharer, Robert and Traxler, Loa P.  Stanford  University Press, Palo Alto:  2005.

 

Ancient Mexico and Central America.  Evans, Susan Toby.  Thames and  Hudson, New York:  2004.

 

The Maya.  Coe, Michael.  Thames and Hudson, New York:  2005.

 

Mexico.  Coe, Michael and Koontz, Rex.  Thames and Hudson, New York:  2008.

 

Mexico's Indigenous Past.   Austin, Alfredo Lopez and  Lujan, Leonardo Lopez.  University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma:  2005.

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