Pre-Columbian Civilizations
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course aims to offer to the students an overview of the ballgame in the context of the cultures of Mesoamerica.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students get an articulated picture of the ballgame in the context of the cultures that developed in Mesoamerica .
They also become aware that sources must be used and evaluated critically
Skills
Students acquire the ability to critically analyze archaeological data and ethnohistorical sources.
Students get an articulated picture of the ballgame in the context of the cultures that developed in Mesoamerica .
They also become aware that sources must be used and evaluated critically
Skills
Students acquire the ability to critically analyze archaeological data and ethnohistorical sources.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled: "The Ballgame in Mesoamerica" and consists of the following three didactic units, which will be addressed in sequence.
Teaching unit A (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The Mesoamerica
Teaching unit B (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The ball game: ethnohistorical and ethnographic data
Teaching unit C (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The ballgame: archaeological data
Students who wish to acquire 6 CFU will follow the program of units A and B; all students who wish to acquire 9 CFU will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
Unit A focuses on the most important cultures that succeeded each other in Mesoamerica from the formation of complex societies until the 16th century.
Units B focuses on ethnohistorical and ethnographic data about the ballgame.
Units C focuses on archaeological data about the ballgame.
The course program is valid until the 28th of February 2024.
Teaching unit A (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The Mesoamerica
Teaching unit B (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The ball game: ethnohistorical and ethnographic data
Teaching unit C (20 hours, 3 CFU) - The ballgame: archaeological data
Students who wish to acquire 6 CFU will follow the program of units A and B; all students who wish to acquire 9 CFU will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
Unit A focuses on the most important cultures that succeeded each other in Mesoamerica from the formation of complex societies until the 16th century.
Units B focuses on ethnohistorical and ethnographic data about the ballgame.
Units C focuses on archaeological data about the ballgame.
The course program is valid until the 28th of February 2024.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in Italian, but the exam bibliography presupposes good Spanish and English language skills.
Students who do not know Spanish or English will not be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they should contact the teacher in advance to assess any adjustments to the program.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have solid Spanish language skills.
Students who do not know Spanish or English will not be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they should contact the teacher in advance to assess any adjustments to the program.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have solid Spanish language skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lectures, reading and commenting of some of the passages of the texts to be studied.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit A - The Mesoamerica
Antonio Aimi, Le culture preispaniche oltre la "barriera del significato", in: Itinerari di cultura ispano-americana, E. Perassi and L. Scarabelli eds., UTET Università, Novara, 2011, pp. 7-33
Antonio Aimi, Gli Aztechi, il destino di un impero, RCS, Milano, 2019, pp. 9-144
Antonio Aimi and Raphael Tunesi, I Maya in Mesoamerica, RCS, Milano, 2018, pp. 9-144;
Michael Coe, Le civiltà dell'antico Messico, Newton & Compton, Roma, 2001, pp. 68-170
Teaching unit B - The ball game: ethnohistorical and ethnographic data
Bernardino de Sahagún, Historia General de las Cosas de Nueva España, Porrúa, México, 1989,
book II, chap. 15 and 34, appendix 1 and 2, pp. 90-92, 142-147, 156-164
book III, chap. 12-14, pp. 202-204
book VI, chap. 13, pp. 329-331
book VIII, chap. 10 and 17, pp. 459-460 and pp. 469-473
Diego Durán, Historia de las Indias de Nueva-España y islas de Tierra Firme,
I, chap. 23 "Solemne y muy usado juego de pelota ...", Porrúa, México, 1984, pp. 205-210
II, chap. 32 and 33, pp. 249-259
Toribio Motolinía, Historia de los Indios de la Nueva España, Part I, chap. 7, Porrúa, México, 1980, pp. 42-46
Hernando Alvarado Tezozómoc, Crónica Mexicana, chap. 1, 2, 45, 46, Porrúa, México, 1987, pp. 223-229 and 391-397
Ted Leyenaar, Ulama, the survival of the Mesoamerican ballgame Ullamaliztli, Kiva , 1992, Vol. 58, n.. 2, pp. 115-153
Éric Taladoire, Las aportaciones de los manuscritos pictográficos al estudio del juego de pelota, Anales del Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, 2015, vol. 37, n. 106, pp. 181-221
Éric Taladoire, Ulama: jouer à la balle avec les dieux, L'Histoire, 2021, n. 481, pp. 66-71
Please note that in other editions of the ethnohistorical sources cited here, the chapters and pages indicated may have different numbers. For any doubt, students can contact Prof. Aimi.
Teaching unit C - The ballgame: archaeological data
César Macazaga Ordoño, El juego de pelota, Innovación, México, 1985, pp. 5-93
Éric Taladoire, Manoplas, candados, rieles y otros objetos inusuales asociados a los juegos de pelota, Arqueología, 2016, n. 51, pp. 198-225
Michael Whittington (ed.), The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame, Mint Museum of Art, Mint, 2001, pp. 20-130
Antonio Aimi, Le culture preispaniche oltre la "barriera del significato", in: Itinerari di cultura ispano-americana, E. Perassi and L. Scarabelli eds., UTET Università, Novara, 2011, pp. 7-33
Antonio Aimi, Gli Aztechi, il destino di un impero, RCS, Milano, 2019, pp. 9-144
Antonio Aimi and Raphael Tunesi, I Maya in Mesoamerica, RCS, Milano, 2018, pp. 9-144;
Michael Coe, Le civiltà dell'antico Messico, Newton & Compton, Roma, 2001, pp. 68-170
Teaching unit B - The ball game: ethnohistorical and ethnographic data
Bernardino de Sahagún, Historia General de las Cosas de Nueva España, Porrúa, México, 1989,
book II, chap. 15 and 34, appendix 1 and 2, pp. 90-92, 142-147, 156-164
book III, chap. 12-14, pp. 202-204
book VI, chap. 13, pp. 329-331
book VIII, chap. 10 and 17, pp. 459-460 and pp. 469-473
Diego Durán, Historia de las Indias de Nueva-España y islas de Tierra Firme,
I, chap. 23 "Solemne y muy usado juego de pelota ...", Porrúa, México, 1984, pp. 205-210
II, chap. 32 and 33, pp. 249-259
Toribio Motolinía, Historia de los Indios de la Nueva España, Part I, chap. 7, Porrúa, México, 1980, pp. 42-46
Hernando Alvarado Tezozómoc, Crónica Mexicana, chap. 1, 2, 45, 46, Porrúa, México, 1987, pp. 223-229 and 391-397
Ted Leyenaar, Ulama, the survival of the Mesoamerican ballgame Ullamaliztli, Kiva , 1992, Vol. 58, n.. 2, pp. 115-153
Éric Taladoire, Las aportaciones de los manuscritos pictográficos al estudio del juego de pelota, Anales del Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, 2015, vol. 37, n. 106, pp. 181-221
Éric Taladoire, Ulama: jouer à la balle avec les dieux, L'Histoire, 2021, n. 481, pp. 66-71
Please note that in other editions of the ethnohistorical sources cited here, the chapters and pages indicated may have different numbers. For any doubt, students can contact Prof. Aimi.
Teaching unit C - The ballgame: archaeological data
César Macazaga Ordoño, El juego de pelota, Innovación, México, 1985, pp. 5-93
Éric Taladoire, Manoplas, candados, rieles y otros objetos inusuales asociados a los juegos de pelota, Arqueología, 2016, n. 51, pp. 198-225
Michael Whittington (ed.), The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame, Mint Museum of Art, Mint, 2001, pp. 20-130
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher.
The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units studied by the student and is held in Italian.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts of the program, the ability to contextualize the authors and their works, the ability of critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
The final grade is expressed out of 30, and the student has the right to reject it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The exam modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher and with the competent Office.
The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units studied by the student and is held in Italian.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts of the program, the ability to contextualize the authors and their works, the ability of critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
The final grade is expressed out of 30, and the student has the right to reject it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The exam modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher and with the competent Office.
L-LIN/06 - LATIN AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Aimi Antonio