RLB397 Aztec Cosmology

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lujza Kotryová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Tuesday 12:30–14:05 K12 nerezervovat
Prerequisites
RLB35 Maya, Aztec and Inca Religions
English language is highly recommended. The Spanish language is welcomed but not required.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course students will:
- have an enhanced knowledge of elementary facts about Aztec cosmology and its interpretations.
- know basic written and pictorial sources.
- be able to interpret and give critical commentaries on historical sources.
- enter to academic discussion about the study of foreign cultures.
Syllabus
  • 1. Opening lesson
  • 2. The place of Aztecs in the study of Mesoamerican religions – historic time and place, terminology, introduction to the academic study of cosmology of ancient cultures
  • 3. Sources to study nahua cosmology – archaeological and pictorial sources, written sources and critique
  • 4. Interpretations of nahua culture from 16th and 17th century – Bernardino de Sahagúb, Diego Durán and theirs followers
  • 5. Interpretations of nahua cosmology of the 20th century – place and time, “the sacred” in Mesoamerica, Alfredo López Austin and his work
  • 6. The status of different beings in nahua cosmology – social hierarchy, man and god, animals and plants
  • 7. Colloquial discussion about interpretation of pictorial sources
Literature
    required literature
  • KOVÁČ, Milan. Slnko jaguára : náboženský svet Olmékov, Mayov a Aztékov. Vyd. 1. Bratislava: Chronos, 2002, 394 s. ISBN 8096713868. info
  • CARRASCO, Davíd. Náboženství Mezoameriky :kosmovize a obřadní centra. V českém jazyce vyd. 2. Praha: Prostor, 1999, 234 s. ISBN 80-85190-97-4. info
  • DÍAZ, Gisele and Alan RODGERS. The Codex Borgia : a full-color restoration of the ancient Mexican manuscript. Edited by Bruce E. Byland. New York: Dover Publications, 1993, xxxii, 77. ISBN 0486275698. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars and seminar discussions.
Students read written sources and study pictorial sources as a homework.
Students prepare commentaries and critical interpretations as a preparation to the seminar discussions.
Assessment methods
3 commentaries of written sources
3 own critical interpretations of pictorial source
Active participation in colloquial discussion.
Language of instruction
Slovak
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučující.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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