The Art and Architecture of Ancient Mesoamerica: Objects of Ritual, Places of Power

3 units

This course will examine the artistic and architectural achievements of the civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica, a cultural region that covers most of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. From the emergence of complex societies during the second millennium BC through the rise of the spectacular cities of the Maya and ending with the violent fall of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century AD, rulers of ancient Mesoamerica relied on a consistent set of themes, images, and media to proclaim their religious and political authority. This course will explore how artists, farmers, priests, elites, kings, and other community members created a vast array of images and objects that expressed cultural ideals, political and religious narratives, and distinct ethnic and civic identities. Prerequisites: L01 113; A46 200; L48 335; or permission of instructor.