ARCHAEOLOGY 2481

Memorial University
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology

ARCHAEOLOGY 2481:
Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Instructor: Dr. Lisa Rankin Phone: 737-4808
Office: QC-4009 lrankin@mun.ca

Text:

1. Adams, Richard E. W.
2001. Ancient Civilizations of the New World. Westview Press, Boulder Colorado.

Description:

This course will introduce students to the archaeology and ethnohistory of various New World Civilizations including the Aztec, Maya and Inka of North, Central and South America. Because these civilizations existed in different regions and rose to power in different time periods the approach will be both comparative and thematic. Specific topics to be addressed will include the roles of ideology and religion in legitimizing and maintaining these early states, as well as, the economy and administration of these civilizations. This course will also address the events and responses of several of these culture groups to contact with Europeans.

Course Requirements:

The course will be presented in a series of lectures, films, and slides. Weekly readings from the text are required and material from the films, lectures and text will be included in the mid-term and final examinations. All assignments should be submitted during the lecture period on the due date.

The course grade will be calculated from two written projects as well as a mid-term and final exam. The due dates and mark weighting for the assignments and exams are as follows.

Assignment 1: (This is a short paper 1-3 pages) 15% of final grade

Mid-Term Exam 25% of final grade

Assignment 2: (This is a longer paper 8-10 pages) 30% of final grade

Final Exam Exam Period 30% of final grade

Lecture Outline

Date	Topic	Readings
Week 1	Defining Civilizations, Introduction to the Inka	Chapter 1
Week 2	Inka Ideology and Ritual	Chapters 4 and 5
Week 3	Inka, Economics and Administration	Chapters 4 and 5
Week 4	Inka, Spanish Conquest	TBA
Week 5	Introduction to Aztec Assignment 1 due	Chapter 2
Week 6	Aztec, Ideology and Ritual	Chapter 2
Week 7	Mid-term Break Mid-term Exam	No Readings
Week 8	Aztec, Economics and Administration	Chapter 3 pp. 59-63
Week 9	Aztec, Spanish Conquest	TBA
Week 10	Maya Introduction	Chapter 2
Week 11	Maya, Ideology and Ritual	Chapter 3 pp. 63-75
Week 12	Maya, Economics and Administration Assignment 2 due	Chapter 3 pp. 75-82
Week 13	Maya, Spanish Conquest	TBA