LLAS 355 Indians of Mexico

This course on Mexican history studies the complex cultures and civilizations of indigenous peoples, from prehispanic times to the present, focusing, especially, on the Nahua ("Aztecs"), Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec. The course examines the cultural survival of native peoples who have faced the challenges of conquest, devastating population loss, secondary status under Spanish colonial rule, constant exposure to external influences, and continuing exploitation to the present. The course traces the evolution of native community organization; art forms; social structure; and religion in the colonial and modern periods; and considers native responses to contemporary issues, such as migration, environmental degradation, and social injustice.