• Course Description
• Laboratory
• Syllabus
  • Readings
  • Evaluation
  • Schedule

II. Colonialism in the Americas

9/23 W- Lectures on the Mayas and the Incas before the Conquistadores Alvarado and Pizarro. Prefaced by Videos, "Mayas: Messages in Stone," and "Peru: Kingdom in the Clouds." Also, begin reading Indian Givers: How The Indians of the Americas Transformed the World for discussion on 10/8. In preparation for Prof. Russo's lecture, read in On-Line, Reserve," J. Diamond, "Collision at Cajamarca," in Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel , (1997) and Diamond, "Evolution of Guns and Germs," in A.C. Fabian, Evolution. Science, Society & the Universe (1998).

9/24 TH- No Class. Attend Paula Russo, Mathematics "Modeling the Spread of Disease in Populations," Terrace C, 4PM. Read in "On Line" Reserve, Steve Jay Gould's essay, "Evolution as Fact and Theory," in Biological Anthropology (1998) for discussion on 9/29. Read Pedro Pietri interview in Puerto Rican Voices pp. 107-118 in preparation for evening performance on 9/26. 1 will hand this out in class. An assignment will be linked to this event very late in the semester, and linked to another art performance. See 12/10.

9/26 Saturday Evening- Attend Performance at ACC, "El Spanglish National Anthem." A multi-media presentation of the trials and tribulations and serious comical effects of speaking two languages simultaneously. This one-of-a-kind evening of total theater combines poetry, drama, dance, comedy, witchcraft and the unpredictable. Written and directed by Pedro Pietri, one of Puerto Rico's most provocative and politically creative minds.

9/29 TU- Prof. Dan Blackburn, "A Trinity Biologist Applies Evolutionary Theory to Understanding Human Diversity." Be sure you have read Steve Jay Gould's essay, "Evolution as Fact and Theory," in Biological Anthropology (1998). For complementary reading, read in "On-Line" Reserve, B. Silver, "Evolution," in The Ascent of Science (1998).

9/30 W- Phonetics Lab on Mayan Languages with Prof. Rusty Barrett. Applying the science of linguistics to distinguishing the complexities of languages that survived conquest and colonialism.

10/1 TH- Lecture: The Aztecs Before and After Cortes Read. F. Jackson Turner, "The Significance of the Frontier" and David J. Weber, "The Idea of the Spanish Borderlands" for discussion on 10/6. The instructor will provide photocopies of these readings.

10/6 TU- Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and U.S. Frontier. Discussion led by Prof. Eugene Leach. Be sure you have read F. Jackson Turner, "The Significance of the Frontier" and David J. Weber, "The Idea of the Spanish Borderlands."

10/7 W- Lab, Prof. Don Galbraith will conduct some experiments with bean counting and address issues of genetics, human, race and populations.