CONTEMPORARY MAYAS: A CULTURE OF NATURE
Explore the enduring wisdom and resilience of the Maya civilization amidst historical challenges and contemporary dynamics. Delve into Maya philosophy, history, and current affairs, with a focus on their relationship with the environment. Analyze pivotal questions: Did the Maya civilization collapse or undergo intentional transformation? Why did the Maya army refrain from sacking the colonial capital during a major rebellion? Examine the impact of modern politics and economics on Maya culture. Uncover the role of Maya bioculture in cultural resistance and survival, and the interconnectedness of spirituality, health, and ethics with nature. Investigate the complexities of Maya perspectives on present-day issues.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: ( CHICLA/SPANISH 222 or SPANISH 223 ) and SPANISH 224 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the intricate relationship between the indigenous Maya people and their natural environment. Compare and contrast the Mayan view of nature with Western conceptualizations. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Critically evaluate theories surrounding the collapse or intentional transformation of the Maya civilization. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explore the history of Mayan resistance from colonial to contemporary times and analyze how their connection to nature has influenced this resistance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Evaluate the impact of 20th and 21st-century politics and economic systems on Maya culture. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Develop a critical understanding of the multifaceted socio-environmental conflicts in Maya territories. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Acquire knowledge about current Mayan activism and efforts to safeguard their land and traditional knowledge. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Engage in reflection on decolonial and transdisciplinary approaches to thinking, researching, and traversing Maya lands. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Articulate the connections between Maya spirituality, health, ethics, and nature. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the intricate relationship between the indigenous Maya people and their natural environment. Compare and contrast the Mayan view of nature with Western conceptualizations. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Critically evaluate theories surrounding the collapse or intentional transformation of the Maya civilization. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Explore the history of Mayan resistance from colonial to contemporary times and analyze how their connection to nature has influenced this resistance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Evaluate the impact of 20th and 21st-century politics and economic systems on Maya culture. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Develop a critical understanding of the multifaceted socio-environmental conflicts in Maya territories. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Acquire knowledge about current Mayan activism and efforts to safeguard their land and traditional knowledge. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Engage in reflection on decolonial and transdisciplinary approaches to thinking, researching, and traversing Maya lands. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Articulate the connections between Maya spirituality, health, ethics, and nature. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027