Global Humanities

The course will center on the area known as Mesoamerica. It will first describe its characteristics before the arrival of europeans and the way this event dramatically changed the politcal, social and cultural dynamics. We will explore the syncretism of artistic expressions and the superposition of new cities on the ruins of previous indigenous settlements. We will finally delve into the impact the arrival of objects, news and produce had on european society. The course will be divided in modules: 1) The first part of the course will be an introduction to Mesoamerica at the edge of the Conquest: 2) The second part will be devoted to the foundation of New Spain and the new urban and land order; 3) The third part will focus on knowledge and belief syncretism and on the emergence of "mestizaje"; 4) The fourth part will address antiquarianism and the interchange of gifts and objects, while exploring the idea of "the other".

There are no specific requierements, although knowledge of English and Spanish is recommended as some readings will be in the original language only.

Earle, Rebecca, The Body of the Conquistador: Food, Race and the Colonial Experience in Spanish America, 1492–1700. Cambridge University Press 2012. Gruzinski, Serge, The Mestizo Mind: The Intellectual Dynamics of Colonization and Globalization. Routledge 2002. Restall, Matthew, Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest. Updated edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. Townsend, Camilla, Malintzin's Choices: An Indian Woman in the Conquest of Mexico. Albuquerque: Univ of New Mexico Press, 2006.

Attendance is strongly recommended.

During the course, students will be asked to participate in class and present the results of a short research, following the assigned readings. Additionally, at the end of the course they will present a topic of their choice (poster session).

Restall, Matthew, Amara Solari, John F. Chuchiak, and Traci Ardren. 2023. The Friar and the Maya: Diego de Landa and the Account of the Things of Yucatan. University Press of Colorado.

The course will incorporate various teaching strategies to achieve the learning objectives and to engage students. Classes will be taught in a classroom setting, with supplementary materials that will be read, viewed, discussed, and analyzed in class, facilitating knowledge acquisition and understanding. Collegues will be giving few lectures to explore some specific topics introduced by the professor.