Christina Halperin

The McGILL DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY – VISITING SPEAKERS SERIES 

(with the Centre for Indigenous Conservation and Development Alternatives [CICADA] and the Centre for Society, Technology and Development [STANDD]) 

presents:

Christina Halperin 

Professeure adjointe, Département d’anthropologie, Université de Montréal 

“Cosmopolitan Maya Women: Rethinking Interregional 

Interactions during the Terminal Classic to Postclassic periods (ca. 800-1521 CE)” 

Friday, February 5, 12:30-2:00pm, Peterson Hall, Room 116, 3460 rue McTavish 

Cosmopolitanism reminds us that we are never fully isolated in this world and that any understanding of our social selves involves a constant tension of local and global senses of belonging. Although notions of cosmopolitanism are most often associated with colonial and transnational interactions of the modern world, prehistoric societies also engaged in broad-scale cultural, economic, and political networks that challenge the seeming traditionalism and isolationism of the ancient world. This talk explores ancient cosmopolitanism from the perspective of Maya women during the Terminal Classic to Postclassic periods (ca. 800-1521 CE). Since previous theories on Mesoamerican interregional interactions largely disregard the participation of women, this talk fosters a more ‘peopled’ perspective of how ideologies, material culture, and practices were articulated across cultural, linguistic, and social worlds. I examine, in particular, merchant women, clothing as a statement of belonging in a larger world, and the adoption of new cooking practices. 

[Lunch/refreshments provided]

All are welcome
Centre for Society, Technology, and Development (STandD)
McGill University
Peterson Hall
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