Universität Wien

060078 VU Mesoamerican Prehistory (2021S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 6 - Ägyptologie, Judaistik, Urgeschichte und Historische Archäologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

08.03, 15.03, 22.03, 12.04, 19.04, 26.04, 03.05, 10.05, 17.05, 31.05, 07.06, 14.06, 21.06, 28.06

The course is planned as an attendance course. In the event of Covid19-based distance regulations that would restrict the capacity of Hörsaal 7 below the number of inscribed students, the course will be offered as a hybrid course. In the event of another lock-down, the course will be switched to purely digital teaching.

  • Monday 08.03. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
    Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 15.03. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
    Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 22.03. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
    Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 12.04. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 19.04. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 26.04. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 03.05. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 10.05. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 17.05. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 31.05. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 07.06. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 14.06. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 21.06. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG
  • Monday 28.06. 09:00 - 10:30 Hörsaal 7 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 3.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Summary
This lecture series presents an overview and synthesis of Mesoamerican prehistory, covering the peopling of the Americas and the early cultures of Mesoamerica with an emphasis on the domestication of plants and animals and the development of complex societies. Students will gain an understanding of the political, social, and economic factors that led to the development of complex societies, how states functioned as viable entities for periods of time as well as the causes and consequences of their decline. These cultural processes will be discussed in terms of the diversity of Mesoamerica’s physical, natural and social environments, including its physical and cultural geography, and cultural ecology.

Aims
• To introduce principal cultures and regions in Mesoamerican Prehistory.
• To gain an understanding of the environmental and social factors involved in the rise and collapse of complex, hierarchical societies.
• To increase skills in critical thinking, reading, developing arguments, and communicating through writing and speaking.
• Students should be able to locate and utilize resources about archaeological sites and cultures in Mesamerica.

Methods
Lecture, readings, group discussions, written summaries, written paper

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation in group discussions.
Independent reading each week.
Individual written assignments (under guidance by instructor, 2 article summaries chosen by student and covering 2 separate methods or concepts; 1 research topic and bibliography; 1 written abstract; 1 written research paper c. 3000 words).
Course will be entirely in English.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students are expected to attend all lectures (2x unexcused absence is permitted) and do weekly readings.
Participation in discussions (including presentation of 1 discussion topic), and turn in topic, bibliography and abstract: 40%
Written article or book summaries (2x10%): 20%
Submission of Individual Written Assignment (ca. 3000 words, 7 pages + tables, charts, references): 40%

Examination topics

Reading list

Core literature
Adams, R.E.W. 2005 Prehistoric Mesoamerica

Required readings for the course will come from journal articles and book chapters. In addition, you might find the following books useful:
Evans, S. 2008. Ancient Mexico & Central America: Archaeology and Culture History
Coe, M. & R. Koontz 2013. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 21.03.2024 00:10