F Cultures of Latin America

Catalog description

54 hours lecture per term. The scope of this course focuses on the exploration of the diverse cultures of ancient Latin America or Mesoamerica from the origins of civilization to the period of the Spanish conquest and some of the current issues indigenous people face in Latin America. The study of ancient Latin American cultures will be based on the four fields of anthropology. The study will be based on archaeological investigations, ethnographical research and various theoretical frameworks to enhance the understanding of the human experience in Latin America. The course will attempt to recreate the lifestyle, social structures, agricultural methods, religious practices and other various culture aspects of Meso-American civilizations in order to have a better understanding of the current conditions and aspects of the various diverse cultural groups from Latin America. The focus of this course will be on Mesoamerican civilizations as well as the Inca and other indigenous groups from South America. Field trips may be required outside of regularly-scheduled class times. (Degree Credit) (CSU) (UC) AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC