Year
Bachelor year 3.
Description
The Maya, a complex of diverse related communities, encompass a group of 32 contemporary languages which are indigenous to southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The heirs of this ancient civilisation are, admittedly, not just the remnants of past glories, but important actors in contemporary politics, arts and scholarship within the nation-states that emerged after Spanish and British colonial rule ended in the region.
In this course, we will explore the most significant elements of cultural continuity which characterise the contemporary Maya, as well as the most recent developments, questions and contributions that this diverse group of peoples present to the world. Special focus will be given to the Maya people of the Yucatán, to whom the lecturer belongs.
Important notions that will be examined are: the supposed “collapse” of Maya cities in the 10th-11th centuries AD, the trans-cultural nature and intercultural synergies of Maya resistance and accommodation to external influences, the long continuity of Maya environmental science, calendric knowledge and literary genres, the significance of contemporary Maya political mobilisation and intellectual production in Mexico (Neo-Zapatista uprising), Belize (collective land rights struggles) and Guatemala (Pan-Mayanism and resurgence), among other topics of interest.
This course will be jointly taught to BA2 and BA3 students, with different assessment methods.
Course objectives
To re-examine the most common myths and misconceptions about the Maya civilization (its supposed “collapse”, the importance of “human sacrifice”, their “sudden” disappearance, etc.);
To recognise the complex histories and dynamic principles that explain the continuity of Maya heritage (languages, as well as political and cultural practice) in a vast and diverse region;
To identify the current developments experienced, and contributions made by Maya peoples, communities and intellectuals which respond to contemporary global concerns;
To develop skills to critically navigate an ever-expanding international field of research;
To convincingly present academic analyses and to defend one’s own position in oral presentations, in writing and in visual form;
Ability to critically evaluate data;
Ability to convincingly present and defend academic analyses in presentations, in writing, orally and in visual form (poster).
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the BA3 time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Lectures;
Literature;
Seminars;
Film watching at home and in class;
Assignments.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
5×2 hours of lectures;
4 hours of seminars;
4 hours of film screenings;
250 pages of literature;
Assignments.
Assessment method
Assignments (25%);
Poster design and presentation (25%);
Final paper (50%).
A retake is only possible for the final paper, provided that the assignments and poster have been submitted and the presentation has been given.
Requirements for assignments and essay will be different for BA2 and BA3 students.
All exam dates (exams, re-sits, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the BA3 examination schedule.
Reading list
McKillop, H. (2004). The Ancient Maya; New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO; Santa Barbara, California;
Tedlock, D. (2011). 2000 Years of Mayan Literature. University of California Press, Berkeley;
Rice, P.M. (2007). Maya Calendar Origins. Monuments, Mythistory, and the Materialization of Time. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press;
Restall, M. (1998). Maya Conquistador. Beacon Press, Boston;
Pitarch, Speed & Leyva-Solano (2008). Human Rights in the Maya Region: Global Politics, Cultural Contentions, and Moral Engagements. Duke University Press, Durham;
Montejo, V.D. (2005). Maya Intellectual Renaissance: Identity, Representation, and Leadership. University of Texas Press, Houston.
FILM:
Himpele & Castaneda (1997). Incidents of Travel in Chichen Itza. Documentary Educational Resources (DER), Watertown, MA, 1 hour 30 minutes.
Registration
Registration via uSis is mandatory.
The Administration Office will register all BA1 students for their tutorials (not lectures; register via uSis!).
BA2, BA3, MA/MSc and RMA/RMSc students are required to register for all lectures and tutorials well in time.
The Administration Office registers all students for their exams, students are not required to do this in uSis.
Contact
For more information about his course, please contact G.D.J. (Genner) Llanes Ortiz.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.