Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples,music, food, festivals, and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together across the calendar year. In this course, we will explore Mexico City as a cultural and historicalcrossroads shaped by centuries of continuity andchange. We will trace the legacies of Indigenous civilizations, the transformations of Spanish colonial rule, the struggles for independence and revolution,and the emergence of modern democratic politics, culminating in the 2024 election of Mexico’s first woman president. We will see how culture, power, and celebration remain deeply intertwined in the life of this extraordinary city.
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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:William Beezley
William Beezley is professor emeritus of history at the University of Arizona and a leading scholar of Mexican history and culture. Beezley received Mexico’s Ohtli Medal for promoting Mexican culture abroad. He has taught at several universities, held endowed chairs, served as a FulbrightSpecialist, and been a visiting professor inMexico. He directed the Oaxaca Graduate Institute and has appeared on PBS. His current research explores embroidery as a voice of Mexican women