Event—Center for Renaissance Studies

Nahua World

—10-Week Fall Seminar

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A seminar exploring 700 years of the history and culture of Nahua people Indigenous to Mexico and Central America.

[Map of unidentified place, probably in central Mexico], 16th century (VAULT oversize Ayer MS 1903)

Description

This graduate course guides students through curated readings that explore the history and culture of Nahua people (often erroneously dubbed the Aztecs) indigenous to Mexico and Central America. The Nahua World first steeps students in key Indigenous Studies texts and trends and then embarks on themes such as gender, sexuality, religion, healing, and decolonization from Mexico to Nicaragua from 1200 to 1950. At each turn, students will strive to understand the last 700 years of Mesoamerican history through the lens of Nahua people. For the final project students will elect to create an investigative podcast, a historiographical essay, or a public history exhibition on a topic of their choosing pertaining to the Nahua World. Tipewakan tel (Let’s begin)!

Note that weekly meetings will be on zoom and one meeting of this seminar will take place in-person at the Newberry on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Learn more about the instructor: Edward Anthony Polanco

Application Instructions

This seminar is free and open to all, but space is limited. Priority will be given to applicants from CRS Consortium institutions. Consortium members may also be eligible to receive Consortium Grants to help defray travel costs. For more details, consult your local consortium representative.

To apply, click below. The application deadline is Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm Central Time.

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