Course Descriptions: Covers the story of indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States: Aztlan, the Spanish colonial period, the Mexican period, and the acquisition and settlement by the United States. Seeks the exposition of indigenous and Hispanic historical and cultural foundations of the region and the confluence with other Asian and European influences.
Course Narrative: This course went over the history of Aztlan, which is the southwestern portion of the United States and the northern portion of Mexico. The class started in pre-colombian times and discussed the tribes of people that were present and about their belief systems. The first chapters described the passing of the ice bridge from Siberia between 50,000 B.C. & 10,000 B.C. And describes the process of the Native Americans switching from nomadic to sedentary around 5,000 B.C. and the establishment of tribes and then empires, more specifically the Mayan empire that expanded across Mexico and Aztlan. From this point the class focussed on the development of Spain and the conquest of the Americas, but more relatively Mexico and the southwestern portion of North America. We learned about Hernan Cortez and his expeditions with La Malinche and how he forced the Mayan empire under his control. After falling under Spanish control, many sought to explore other regions of the land. For example exploration of the Far North began in 1528 with Alverez Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's expedition to Texas. This expedition sparked movement up North as many sought to find riches. At this point, the expeditions picked up and settlements arose in modern day Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. The class quickly picked up and went into the Independence of Mexico and how when Mexico received its independence many American workers were migrating west and asked to work in Mexico. Quickly the Americans saw economic advantages and a war broke out in Texas and eventually led to the Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty. The class left off on the Chicano movements and the struggles of the Mexican Americans today. Every week we did a chapter summary and review and here is an example. This class met MLO 3.
Course Narrative: This course went over the history of Aztlan, which is the southwestern portion of the United States and the northern portion of Mexico. The class started in pre-colombian times and discussed the tribes of people that were present and about their belief systems. The first chapters described the passing of the ice bridge from Siberia between 50,000 B.C. & 10,000 B.C. And describes the process of the Native Americans switching from nomadic to sedentary around 5,000 B.C. and the establishment of tribes and then empires, more specifically the Mayan empire that expanded across Mexico and Aztlan. From this point the class focussed on the development of Spain and the conquest of the Americas, but more relatively Mexico and the southwestern portion of North America. We learned about Hernan Cortez and his expeditions with La Malinche and how he forced the Mayan empire under his control. After falling under Spanish control, many sought to explore other regions of the land. For example exploration of the Far North began in 1528 with Alverez Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's expedition to Texas. This expedition sparked movement up North as many sought to find riches. At this point, the expeditions picked up and settlements arose in modern day Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. The class quickly picked up and went into the Independence of Mexico and how when Mexico received its independence many American workers were migrating west and asked to work in Mexico. Quickly the Americans saw economic advantages and a war broke out in Texas and eventually led to the Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty. The class left off on the Chicano movements and the struggles of the Mexican Americans today. Every week we did a chapter summary and review and here is an example. This class met MLO 3.