Introduction to Mexican Culture and History

Course Description: This advanced Spanish immersion course is intended for students who can speak fluidly in Spanish and are ready to immerse themselves into exciting and interesting narrations and discussions of Mexican culture and history from the pre-hispanic era to the present. The class will provide a historical overview and use texts from representative thinkers of their time to explore the debates, challenges, and triumphs of each era.

Our historical exploration will lead into a discussion of modern social movements, the causes and consequences of Mexican immigration, and immigrant culture in the United States. Students will improve their Spanish skills - learning new vocabulary words and strengthening understanding of advanced grammar structures - through reading, writing, and class discussion.

Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate IV or equivalent

Duration:
10 classes for each part (1 class/week)

Course Outline:

PART I:
1. Pre-hispanic Mexico within the context of Universal History
2. Overview of Mesoamerican Cultures (The pre-Classic, Classic and post-Classic periods)
3. The Mexicas
4. Introduction to Nahuatl Literature
5. The Spanish conquest
6. Nahua accounts before and after the Spanish invasion

PART II:
1. Spanish Colonialism and American society
2. New Spain's Baroque Culture
3. The collapse of New Spain, Mexican Independence
4. War with the United States
5. War of the Reform, French Intervention and the Second Mexican Empire
6. Benito Juarez and the restoration of the Republic
7. The Mexican Revolution

PART III:
1. The Cristero War
2. Consolidation of the Revolutionary power
3. Cardenas and Oil Nationalization
4. Post WWII economic burst
5. Student movement of 1968
6. Neo-liberalism and NAFTA
7. Chiapas and The Zapatistas
8. Oaxaca and the APPO
9. Civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
10. Presidential Elections in 2006
11. The Drug Wars

Bibliography:

1. Leon-Portilla, Miguel and Shorris, Earl; In the Language of Kings - An anthology of Mesoamerican Literature, Pre-Columbian to the Present; W.W. Norton & Company, 2001
2. Gisela von Wobeser et al.; Historia de Mexico; FCE, SEP, Academia de la historia, 2010
3. Hamnett R. Brian; A Concise History of Mexico; Cambridge University Press, Second Ed. 2006
4. Leon-Portilla, Miguel; Rostro y Corazón de Anáhuac; Asociación Nacional del Libro, 1a. ed. México, 2001
5. Leon-Portilla, Miguel; Los antiguos Mexicanos; Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2da. ed. México, 1968
6. Leon-Portilla, Miguel; Visión de los Vencidos - Relaciones Indígenas de la Conquista; UNAM, XXIX ed. México, 2007