Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica from Udemy

Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica

This course is a comprehensive introduction to the Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica, the Geology of Mesoamerica, a Site Analysis, Timeline of Ancient Mesoamerica, The First Americans, Paleo-Indian Cultures, 15,000– Welcome.

I teach lecture courses and studios as I wish they would have been taught to me. Much of the graphic material in my lectures is taken or generated first hand directly by me on site. I teach to learn. I teach subjects as I wish they were taught to me. The Mission Statement. Education is a tool for the improvement of successive generations. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius

This course is designed under the premise that humans should be taught in a way that is modeled after the educational patterns of evolution.

The design, development and application of educational systems based on the educational principles of evolution generates a philosophy and methodology of education in synchrony with the evolutionary education system that is firmly and deeply rooted in each of us.

Education for evolution is an educational system designed to help propel humans forward in the natural course of evolution. The purpose of education for evolution is to enhance and strengthen the natural evolutionary process of humans through the mechanism of education. The means to achieve this objective is the design of a curricula based on the same educational techniques and strategies used by natural evolution, enhanced and guided by the application of conscious educational decisions.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Ancient civilizations of mesoamerica
Increased appreciation of art

The course enhances human development.
The course promotes self-learning.

Ancient civilizations of mesoamerica
Increased appreciation of art
The course enhances human development.
The course promotes self-learning.

Syllabus

Introduction

Mesoamerican Civilizations 2

Mesoamerican Civilizations 3

Mesoamerican Civilizations 4

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Offers an increased appreciation of art, which may be useful for students studying art history, archaeology, or anthropology

Promotes self-learning, which may appeal to students who enjoy independent study and want to develop their research skills

Enhances human development, which may be of interest to students studying psychology, sociology, or education

Includes graphic material generated first hand on site, which may provide a more immersive and engaging learning experience

Reviews summary

Ancient mesoamerica: passionate lectures, mixed structure

According to learners, this course offers a fascinating journey into the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica. Many highlight the instructor's evident knowledge and passion and the incredible visual materials, often from personal site visits, as major strengths that significantly increased their appreciation for the art and history. However, a significant portion of reviewers note issues with the course structure, describing it as disorganized or hard to follow. The unique 'education for evolution' philosophical framework introduced is frequently mentioned as confusing or unnecessary and sometimes distracting from the historical content. While the core historical material is considered valuable, the delivery and organization receive mixed feedback.

The course significantly enhances appreciation for the subject.

"Made me appreciate the art and architecture so much more."

"Learned so much more than just dates and names; gained a real appreciation for the complexity and achievements..."

"It truly increased my appreciation for the art and history."

"Deepened my understanding and appreciation significantly."

"Amazing course! Deepened my appreciation for these cultures."

Instructor's passion and site visuals enhance learning.

"Absolutely fascinating course! The lecturer is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate."

"Brilliant course! The visual materials are stunning and clearly straight from fieldwork."

"The instructor's passion and knowledge shine through. The visuals from the sites are amazing."

"Learned a lot about Mesoamerican cultures. The site visits and personal photos are a huge bonus."

"The instructor makes history come alive. The visuals are incredible."

Lectures can be rambling and lack clear organization.

"Disappointing. The lectures are rambling and not well-structured."

"Content is interesting, but the delivery is a bit dry at times. The structure jumps around a little, making it hard to follow..."

"Mixed feelings. The historical information is valuable, but the presentation is inconsistent. Some lectures are great, others drag."

"The overall structure felt a bit disjointed, but the individual topics were well-covered."

"Okay course. Content is interesting but presentation is uneven... Could be better organized."

Unique 'evolutionary' framework is unclear and distracting.

"The 'education for evolution' concept is a bit vague but didn't detract from the historical content."

"The 'education for evolution' framework adds nothing and is poorly explained."

"The 'evolutionary' concept feels like an unnecessary layer."

"Worst course I've ever taken... the 'education for evolution' concept is pseudo-scientific nonsense..."

"Confusing and poorly organized. The philosophical parts are distracting."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica with these activities:

Review World History Timelines

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Familiarize yourself with the general timeline of world history to better contextualize the specific events and developments within Mesoamerica.

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Find a reliable online resource for world history timelines.
Focus on the period from 3000 BCE to 1500 CE.
Note key events in other parts of the world during the rise and fall of Mesoamerican civilizations.

Read '1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus'

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Expand your understanding of pre-Columbian America by exploring the latest research and challenging conventional narratives.

View True West on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of '1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus'.
Read the book, taking notes on key arguments and evidence.
Reflect on how the book's findings relate to the course content.

Create a Comparative Timeline

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Solidify your understanding of Mesoamerican history by creating a visual timeline that compares different civilizations and their key events.

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Choose 3-4 major Mesoamerican civilizations (e.g., Maya, Aztec, Olmec).
Research the key events and periods for each civilization.
Create a visual timeline that compares these events across civilizations.
Include dates, brief descriptions, and images.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Read 'The Maya' by Michael D. Coe

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Gain a deeper understanding of the Maya civilization through a comprehensive overview of their history, culture, and achievements.

View The Maya on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'The Maya' by Michael D. Coe.
Read the book, focusing on the aspects that interest you most.
Take notes on key concepts and ideas.

Research a Specific Mesoamerican Site

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Deepen your knowledge by conducting in-depth research on a specific archaeological site in Mesoamerica.

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Select a Mesoamerican archaeological site of interest (e.g., Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza).
Gather information about the site's history, architecture, and cultural significance.
Prepare a presentation or report summarizing your findings.

Design a Museum Exhibit

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Apply your knowledge by designing a virtual museum exhibit showcasing a specific aspect of Mesoamerican civilization.

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Choose a theme for your exhibit (e.g., Mayan art, Aztec religion).
Select artifacts and information to include in the exhibit.
Create a virtual layout for the exhibit, including descriptions and images.
Present your exhibit to the class or share it online.

Write a Blog Post on a Controversial Topic

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Engage with current debates and interpretations of Mesoamerican history by writing a blog post on a controversial topic.

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Identify a controversial topic in Mesoamerican studies (e.g., the collapse of the Maya civilization).
Research different perspectives on the topic.
Write a blog post presenting your own informed opinion.

Career center

Learners who complete Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Archaeologist

An archaeologist studies past peoples and cultures by excavating and analyzing material remains. This course, with its comprehensive introduction to the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica, directly aligns with the core knowledge base a successful archaeologist needs when specializing in this region. The course's emphasis on site analysis and the timeline of ancient Mesoamerica provides valuable context and understanding of the material finds they will encounter. Furthermore, the course design, inspired by evolutionary educational patterns, may help an archaeologist develop a deeper ability to understand the development and behavior of past cultures based on their findings.

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Cultural Heritage Manager

A cultural heritage manager is responsible for the preservation and promotion of cultural sites and artifacts. This course on the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica may help those who wish to manage sites or artifacts from this region by providing them with a detailed understanding of the culture and history of the area. The course’s focus on the geology and timelines of the region may prepare a cultural heritage manager to more effectively communicate with the public, and educate them about the cultural relevance of particular sites or objects. The emphasis on understanding how humans learn, as taught through the lens of evolutionary education, provides a deeper perspective when educating others

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Museum curator

A museum curator is in charge of the care and interpretation of a museum's collection. For a museum curator specializing in Mesoamerican artifacts, this course provides a strong foundation in the history and culture of the region. The detailed study of Mesoamerican civilizations, geology, and site analysis offered in the course may be very relevant for preparing effective and informative exhibits. The course's emphasis on understanding the human experience and learning, through the lens of evolutionary education, can help a curator design exhibits that engage and educate the public.

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Historian

A historian researches, analyzes, and interprets the past. This course's deep dive into the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica helps build a strong knowledge base for a historian specializing in this area of the world. The emphasis on the timeline of ancient Mesoamerica, as well as the course's hands-on approach to learning through site analysis, is useful in helping them to develop a more complete understanding of the subject matter. The course philosophy based on evolutionary educational patterns may help a historian better understand and contextualize past civilizations.

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University Professor

A university professor teaches courses and conducts research in a specific academic discipline. For an individual wishing to teach about ancient Mesoamerica, this course is a great starting point for developing expertise in the civilizations of this region. The course's content and methodology, which includes site analysis and a chronological study of the region, may be very relevant to developing a strong syllabus. The philosophy of instruction, modeled on the patterns of evolution, is likely an inspiration for a teacher by encouraging them to teach by doing, seeing, and hearing.

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Anthropologist

An anthropologist studies human societies and cultures and how they develop. This course is valuable for an anthropologist who studies Mesoamerican cultures, providing a comprehensive introduction to the ancient civilizations of the region. The course's focus on site analysis, the timeline of ancient Mesoamerica, and the cultures that once thrived in this area, may provide the knowledge and understanding needed to do meaningful work. The course's emphasis on evolutionary education may be useful for an anthropologist, as they seek to understand the development of cultural practices.

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Archival Researcher

An archival researcher examines historical records, documents, and artifacts. This course on ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica may be useful background for an archival researcher who is interested in the history of this region. The course covers the timeline, geology, and site analysis of ancient Mesoamerica. The focus on learning through direct experience may give an archival researcher a fresh perspective when examining historical materials.

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Educational Consultant

An educational consultant advises schools, institutions, and organizations on educational practices and curriculum development. This course may be helpful for an educational consultant who is interested in how teaching methods can be improved by following evolved educational patterns. The approach of this course, which is based on principles of experiential learning, may be quite relevant to an educational consultant. Further, the course emphasizes human development, which may be useful for designing curricula.

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Librarian

A librarian is responsible for organizing and managing a library's collections and resources, and often serves as a knowledgeable guide for library users. This course on ancient Mesoamerican civilizations may be useful for a librarian when working with patrons researching the topic. The librarian may find the course's emphasis on the timeline of the region and the analysis of its sites to be helpful in navigating resources. A librarian may also resonate with the educational philosophy of this course, which is to engage learners by following the patterns of evolution.

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Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people on excursions, providing information and commentary. This course, with its study of the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica, may be useful for a tour guide who leads tours of related historical sites. The course's focus on the region's geology and history may help a tour guide to provide more in depth information to tourists. The method of this course, based on site analysis and hands-on engagement, may inspire a tour guide to offer a more engaging experience.

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Writer

A writer creates articles, books, and other forms of written content. This course on ancient Mesoamerica might be useful for a writer, who wishes to create works centered on the topics covered. This course may help a writer develop a strong understanding of the history, culture, and geology of the region, topics they may wish to incorporate into their work. The way the course emphasizes learning, by doing, seeing, and hearing may inspire a writer to create more engaging work for their readers.

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Illustrator

An illustrator creates visual images for various media, such as books, websites, and advertisements. This course, with its focus on ancient Mesoamerica, may be useful for an illustrator who is interested in depicting the art and culture of the region. The detailed lecture material, including direct material from sites, could provide an illustrator with strong reference for accurately depicting the region's art. The course's emphasis on human development and learning may help to inspire the creative process in the illustrator.

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Documentary Filmmaker

A documentary filmmaker creates films that explore real life events. This course's comprehensive study of the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica may be useful for a documentary filmmaker who wishes to create films about this region. The course provides detailed information about the timeline, geology, and site analysis of the region, which could be incorporated into the film. The course's emphasis on the evolutionary patterns of learning provides a framework for considering the development of the cultures that are being studied.

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Travel Blogger

A travel blogger creates content about their travel experiences, often including information about history, culture, and cuisine. This course may be useful for a travel blogger who wants to specialize in the Mesoamerican region. The course's overview of Mesoamerican civilizations, its geology, and its historical sites will provide them with a wealth of background information. While this course may not directly apply to all aspects of travel blogging, the course's philosophy of learning through doing, seeing, and hearing, may help a travel blogger to create more engaging content.

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Software Developer

A software developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course may be useful for a software developer interested in the field of educational technology. The course emphasizes how educational systems can be designed by reflecting on evolutionary learning patterns. While this course does not contain any direct applications to software development, it may provide a software developer with additional perspectives on how to create educational software that is intuitive and engaging.

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Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Ancient mesoamerica: passionate lectures, mixed structure

Activities

Career center

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