LISS.398A TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN ADAPTATION:
PART II PRE-EUROPEAN MESOAMERICA

LISS.398A : SYLLABUS PART II

FALL 1999

Each week consists of two sessions. For each session, a list of topics is provided together with a link to the instructor's PERSPECTIVE on these topics. Readings relevant to these topics are listed in order of priority. Recommended readings are listed in square brackets. Links to the reading list provide information about and/or direct access to the reading.

WEEK 1 (10/05-10/07)

SESSION 1 (10/05)

Topics:: Social Evolution
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Flannery '72 pp. 399-408; Harris '83, esp. 110-115; Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch.1, pp. 1-27; [Eddy '91, Ch. 11: review Eddy '91, Ch. 9]

Film:: "Sentinels of Silence" (19 min) CU B78850.16

SESSION 2 (10/07)

Topics:: Valley of Oaxaca: Agricultural Intensification; Origins of Social Differentiation - San José Mogoté (1500-500 BC)
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 3, pp. 50-69

WEEK 2 (10/12-10/14)

SESSION 1 (10/12)

Topics:: Gulf Lowlands: Origins of Social Differentiation - San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán (1500 BC -450 BC), La Venta (800 BC - 300 BC); Lowland Agriculture
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Coe '81, pp. 117-121, 139-146; Cobean, et. al. '71; Heizer '60; [Weaver '93, Ch. 3]

Film:: Excavations at La Venta (29 min) (UC #37228vt)

SESSION 2 (10/14)

Topics:: Valley of Oaxaca: Incipient Urbanism; Irrigation: Population Growth; Origins of the State - Monte Albán I (500-200 BC); Highland Agriculture
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 3, pp. 69-82; Drennan '76; [Weaver '93, Ch. 4, pp. 98-108]; [Willey, et. al. '64]

WEEK 3 (10/19-10/21)

SESSION 1 (10/19)

Topics:: Valley of Oaxaca: Trade and the Fully Developed State - Monte Albán II (200 BC-300 AD) Mathematics, Calendars
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 3, pp. 82-87; Weaver '93, Ch. 5

SESSION 2 (10/21)

Topics:: Valley of Oaxaca: Economic Specialization; Central Bureaucratic State - Monte Albán III (300-750 AD) Writing
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Marcus '80; Morell '91; Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 3, pp. 87-96; [Feinman '86]; [Marcus '76]

WEEK 4 (10/26-10/28)

SESSION 1 (10/26)

Topics:: Valley of Oaxaca: Socio-Economic Collapse; Fragmentation - Monte Albán IV -V, Zaachila, Mitla (750-1520 AD); Metallurgy
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 3 , pp. 96-105; Flannery '83, pp. 323-329; [Weaver '93, Ch. 7, pp. 413-420]; Hosler & Stresser-Pean '92; [Pendergast '62, pp. 520-522, 534-541]; [Hosler '94]; [Hosler '88]; [Hosler & Macfarlane '97]; [Pendergast '82]

SESSION 2 (10/28)

Topics:: Valley of Mexico: Agricultural Intensification; Origins of the State; The Olmec Connection (1400 BC - 1 AD), Cuicuilco, Chalcatzingo
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 4, pp. 106-123; Grove, et. al. '76; [Sanders '81]; [Weaver '93, Ch. 2, pp. 18-21]

WEEK 5 (11/02-11/04)

SESSION 1 (11/02)

Topics:: Valley of Mexico: Urbanism; Irrigation; Population Growth - Teotihuacán (1-750 AD) Mining
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 4, pp. 123-135; Zeitlin '85; [Clark '86. pp. 23-42, pp. 62-71]; [Millon '81]; [Weaver '93, Ch. 4, pp. 78-93]; [Weigand & Gwynne '82, Introduction]

SESSION 2 (11/04)

Topics:: Valley of Mexico: Overdevelopment; Socio-Economic Collapse: The Post-Classic State - Tula (750-1200 AD) Obsidian Working; Ceramics
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 4 pp. 135-142; Weaver '93, Ch. 7, pp. 383-413; Clark '86, pp. 23-42, pp. 62-71; [Deihl '81]; [Clark '86, pp. 42-62]; [Charlton '78]; Rice '87; Kolb '86, pp. 155-162, 171-175, 184-198

WEEK 6 (11/09-11/11)

SESSION 1 (11/09)

Topics:: Valley of Mexico: The Post-Classic State - Tenochtitlán (Aztec) (1200-1400 AD) Trade, Tribute, Transportation
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93 pp. 142-148; Hassig '85, Introduction, pp. 2-8; Transport, pp. 28-40, 56-66; Summary of the Pre-Columbian System. pp. 145-150; [Weaver '93, Ch. 8, pp. 438-479]; [Ekholm '46]

SESSION 2 (11/11)

Topics:: Valley of Mexico: The Post Classic Empire - Tenochtitlán (Aztec), (1400 - 1520 A. D.) Chinampa Agriculture, Warfare
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93 pp. 148-157; Coe '64; Hassig '88, Introduction, pp. 3-13; Arms, Armor & Combat, pp. 75-109

Film:: The Chinampas (31 min) (UC #37984 vt)

PAPER FIRST DRAFTS DUE

WEEK 7 (11/16-11/18)

SESSION 1 (11/16)

Topics:: Eastern Lowlands: Agricultural Intensification in the Tropics; Origins of the State - Nakbe (300 BC-300 AD)
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 5, pp. 158-169; Adams, et. al 81; Hanson '91; [Weaver '93, Ch. 4, pp. 108-11, 114-135, 137-140]

Film:: Mystery of the Maya (60 min) (UC #9770)

SESSION 2 (11/18)

Field Trip:: Denver Art Museum
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Pasztory '84

WEEK 8 (11/23)

SESSION 1 (11/23)

Topics:: Maya Lowlands: Overdevelopment; Socio-Economic Collapse; The Classic State - Palenque, Tikal (300-900 AD)
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 5, pp. 169-187; Adams '91; [Weaver '93, Ch. 6, pp. 237-268, 303-379]

Film:: Tikal (23 min) (UC #9712)

WEEK 9 (11/30-12/02)

SESSION 1 (11/30)

Topics:: Maya Lowlands: Fragmentation, Political Subjugation (?); The Post Classic State - Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Mayapán, Tullum (900-1520 A D)
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 5, pp. 187-190; Weaver '93, Ch. 7, pp. 420-425; [Weaver '93, Ch. 8, 425-434]; Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 6

SESSION 2 (12/02)

Topics:: Comparisons and Conclusions
PERSPECTIVE

Reading:: Blanton, et. al. '93, Ch. 6

Film:: Collapse (50 min)

WEEK 10 (12/07-12/09)

SESSION 1 (12/07)

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

SESSION 2 (12/09)

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

PAPER DUE 12/11 AT CLASS MEETING
Please submit corrected first draft together with final draft.

Colorado School of Mines
Division of Liberal Arts and International Studies
Dr. Joseph D. Sneed
jsneed@mines.edu

LISS.398A TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN ADAPTATION: PART II PRE-EUROPEAN MESOAMERICA