Introduction to Mexican History

1. Objective:
1. Examine the creation of Mexican identities and the role of Indigenous peoples in that creation
2. Scope of the class
   1. Ancient America
      1. Mayas and Aztecs
   2. European Conquest (1492)
      1. Montezuma Hernán Cortés
   3. Colonial Period
   4. Independence
   5. Nineteenth-century liberalism
   6. Mexican Revolution
   7. Zapatistas
3. Methodology
1. Social History
2. Multiculturalism
   1. Mestizaje
   2. Syncretism
   3. Indigenismo
3. Progress
4. Objectivity
4. Mechanics
1. Required Readings
1. Meyer/Sherman, The Course of Mexican History
2. Bonfil Batalla, México Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization
3. B. Traven, The Rebellion of the Hanged
4. Vasconcelos, The Cosmic Race/La raza cósmica
5. Raat/Beezley, Twentieth-Century Mexico
2. Assignments
1. Midterm exam
2. Essay
3. Final project
4. Final exam
5. Class participation
6. http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist263
3. Office
1. Schroeder 332-I
2. Phone: 438-8306
3. Office Hours: TR 11:00-12:30, or by appt.
4. mbecker@ilstu.edu
5. Introductions:
• Name
• Class & Major
• Have you ever been to Mexico?
• What would you like to get out of this class?
• Optional: "I, <Name, SSN> hereby grant Marc Becker permission to post my grades to the class web site under the code name ____________."