Module #1 Introduction to Ancient Mesoamerica Overview of the geographical and cultural scope of Ancient Mesoamerica, including the Maya, Aztecs, Olmec, and other civilizations.
Module #2 The Cosmic Landscape of Ancient Mesoamerica Exploration of the Mesoamerican concept of the cosmos, including the significance of sacred mountains, caves, and bodies of water.
Module #3 The Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses Introduction to the major deities of Ancient Mesoamerica, including their roles, characteristics, and significance in mythology and ritual.
Module #4 The Importance of Human Sacrifice Examination of the role of human sacrifice in Mesoamerican religious rituals, including its purpose, prevalence, and cultural implications.
Module #5 Bloodletting and Self-Sacrifice Exploration of the practice of bloodletting and self-sacrifice in Mesoamerican rituals, including its significance and symbolism.
Module #6 The Significance of Shamanism Discussion of the role of shamans in Mesoamerican societies, including their spiritual practices, healing techniques, and connection to the divine.
Module #7 The Ritual Use of Psychoactive Substances Examination of the use of psychoactive substances, such as peyote and ayahuasca, in Mesoamerican religious rituals and their role in spiritual practices.
Module #8 The Calendar Systems of Ancient Mesoamerica Introduction to the complex calendar systems of the Maya and Aztecs, including their significance in astronomy, mathematics, and ritual practices.
Module #9 The Ritual Cycle of Life and Death Exploration of the Mesoamerican understanding of the life cycle, including birth, coming of age, marriage, and death, and their associated rituals and practices.
Module #10 The Significance of Ceremonial Centers Examination of the architectural and symbolic significance of ceremonial centers, such as temples, pyramids, and plazas, in Mesoamerican cities.
Module #11 The Role of Women in Ancient Mesoamerica Discussion of the social, economic, and religious roles of women in Mesoamerican societies, including their participation in ritual practices.
Module #12 The Ballgame and Its Ritual Significance Exploration of the Mesoamerican ballgame, including its history, rules, and ritual significance, as well as its connection to mythology and astronomy.
Module #13 The Feathered Serpent in Mesoamerican Mythology Examination of the mythology and symbolism surrounding the feathered serpent deity, including its association with fertility, water, and wisdom.
Module #14 The Aztec Temple and its Ritual Practices In-depth exploration of the Aztec temple as a ritual space, including its architecture, symbolism, and associated practices, such as human sacrifice and bloodletting.
Module #15 The Maya Sacred Book:The Popol Vuh Analysis of the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, including its mythology, cosmology, and ritual practices, as well as its significance in understanding Mesoamerican religion.
Module #16 Ritual Warfare and Human Sacrifice in the Aztec Empire Examination of the role of warfare and human sacrifice in the expansion and maintenance of the Aztec Empire, including its connection to mythology and ritual practices.
Module #17 The Symbolism of Mesoamerican Iconography Exploration of the symbolic language of Mesoamerican art, including its use of animals, plants, and geometric shapes to convey mythological and ritual messages.
Module #18 The Role of Music and Dance in Ritual Practices Discussion of the significance of music and dance in Mesoamerican rituals, including their use in ceremonies, myths, and shamanic practices.
Module #19 The Cosmic Role of the Jaguar in Mesoamerica Examination of the symbolism and mythology surrounding the jaguar in Mesoamerican cultures, including its association with power, fertility, and the underworld.
Module #20 The Ritual Use of Tobacco and Other Plants Exploration of the ritual use of tobacco and other plants in Mesoamerican societies, including their significance in shamanic practices and spiritual rituals.
Module #21 The Significance of Weaving and Textiles in Ritual Practices Discussion of the role of weaving and textiles in Mesoamerican rituals, including their use in ceremonies, myths, and shamanic practices.
Module #22 The Connection between Mesoamerican Rituals and Astronomy Examination of the connection between Mesoamerican rituals and astronomy, including the use of celestial bodies to guide rituals and agricultural practices.
Module #23 The Impact of Spanish Colonization on Mesoamerican Rituals Analysis of the impact of Spanish colonization on Mesoamerican rituals, including the suppression of indigenous practices, the introduction of Christianity, and the resulting syncretism.
Module #24 The Legacy of Mesoamerican Rituals in Modern Times Exploration of the continued significance of Mesoamerican rituals in modern times, including their influence on art, literature, and contemporary spiritual practices.
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Religion and Rituals in Ancient Mesoamerica career
