Precolumbian history essay

12 double-spaced pages.

This paper can go two ways.

1. space where you explore further some issue related to Native American history, past or present, that particularly intrigues you. The topic is wide open. Perhaps you are interested in exploring the Native past of the region you grew up in; or the relationship between indigenous and archaeological histories; or the Chacoan road network; or repatriation legislation and the Native American struggle for control over their ancestral remains; or the Effigy Mound Tradition; or what a truly decolonized archaeology might look like; or Hopewell archaeoastronomy; or the Cahokian female figurines; or the recently reported and highly controversial discovering of a 130,000-year-old site in California just last week (!). The topic indeed is open. Find something that fascinates you and pursue it. Feel free to be deeply rigorous or deeply playful, as your inclination leads you. (Just make sure what you write is smart.)

2. Write on the following topic: The Maya Civilization in the Context of Mesoamerican Culture

Topic of research will be the Maya civilization, discussing it in the context of the Mesoamerican culture concerning the pre-Columbian period.  The research will include the development of Mayan civilization in the context of the geographical area and timeline, its politics, organization of the society, warfare, trade, art, and architecture. Concerning geographical area, the paper will dwell on the territory of the Mayan Civilization in Mexico, Northern, and Central America.

The Mayan political organization will be examined on states, chiefdoms and the political complexity. This will be tied to rivalries, alliances and the achievement of regional dominance. About society, the sharp division between the elites and the commoners will be paramount. Again, the research will be examining warfare in the Maya world concerning military campaigns, the control of trade routes as well as weaponry. Being key to the development of the civilization, the trade will be covered regarding routes, commodities, marketplaces as well as trade items. Then, Mayan art and architecture will be examined on structures and the design of cities. Hence, the understanding of the Mayan culture and society will be complete with regard to the Mesoamerican culture.

Here are some materials for the research but more is encouraged:

Culbert, T. P., & Jay I. Kislak Reference Collection (Library of Congress). (1993). Maya

civilization. Montreal: St. Remy Press.

Estrada-Belli, F., (2010). The First Maya Civilization: Ritual and Power Before the Classic Period. New York: Routledge.

Foster, L. V. (2005). Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World (New ed.). New York:

Oxford University Press.

Guernsey, J. (2006). Ritual and Power in Stone: The Performance of Rulership in

Mesoamerican Izapan Style Art. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.

Holm, K. C. (2012). Everyday life in the Maya civilization. New York, NY: PowerKids Press.

Joel, P. (2006). Mayan Culture Past and Present. Book Links, 16(1), 59-63.

Here’s the fine print…

• 12+ pages, double-spaced, 1 inch margins
• Citations: in text citation, for example (Deloria 1972:12). Should you have questions about how to cite, see the American Anthropological Association’s style guide: https://www.uvm.edu/wid/writingcenter/tutortips/AAAStyleGuide.pdf.
• References: 6-8 sources in total would be fine for a paper of this length.

• Grading: grades will be determined based on (1) the depth of your intellectual engagement, (2) the extent of your research or preparation for your paper, (3) the originality of your comments and/or your success in synthesizing existing work, (4) the accuracy of your claims, and (5) the style, clarity and overall quality of your writing.