Academic Year of Degree:
2026/27
28210 - American art: pre-Columbian period and Hispanic
Teaching Plan Information
Academic year:
2026/27
Subject:
28210 - American art: pre-Columbian period and Hispanic
Faculty / School:
103 - Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Tipo de enseñanza:
In person
Ambit:
History of Art and Artistic Expression, Fine Arts
Degree:
420 - Degree in History of Art
619 - Degree in History of Art
681 - Degree in History of Art
ECTS:
9.0
Year:
2
Semester:
First semester
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
---
1. General information
This subject offers an overview of American, pre-Columbian and Hispanic Art, beginning with the most outstanding artistic manifestations of the pre-Columbian cultures, from Mesoamerica to the Andean area covering the Formative, Classic and Post-Classic periods, and then approaching the most outstanding stages of Hispano-American art.
In addition to SDGs 4, 5 and 10 outlined in section 6 of this guide, this subject works on SDGs 16 and 17.
2. Learning results
In order to pass this subject, the students shall demonstrate they has acquired the following results:
CON-2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the History of Universal Art, including its theoretical foundations and methodologies, with attention to its major movements, sources, trends, and artists, as well as the evolution of aesthetic thought and the multiple functions, interpretations, and meanings of artworks across historical developments and within diverse cultural contexts.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of Pre-Hispanic and Colonial American Art, with attention to its sources, characteristics, functions, and meanings, as well as the principal lines and causes of its evolution over time.
HAB-2. Gather and interpret significant data to make informed judgments that include reflection from the perspective of Art History on social, scientific, or ethical issues.
Be able to comprehend a work from both the Pre-Hispanic and Colonial periods by analyzing its form, function, and meaning—always considering, in a broad sense, the historical, social, cultural, and religious context in which it was created.
HAB-6. Analyze, describe, and interpret artworks by considering their aesthetic values, reflecting on their form, function, and meaning, and studying their relationship with the historical, cultural, social, economic, political, ideological, religious, and individual contexts in which they were produced.
Be capable of observing, analyzing, and describing an artwork from the Pre-Hispanic and Colonial periods. Demonstrate a foundational understanding of the main artistic languages developed in the New World, including specific terminology, techniques, and creative systems.
CTR-1. Democratic Values and Sustainability. Foster a commitment to the society in which we live, aiming to promote its development through democratic values and sustainability, framed within the global context that defines these at any given time.
Maintain a systemic understanding of how society functions, particularly the democratic system and the fundamental rights on which it is based. Treat all individuals with respect and equality.
CTR-3. Critical Thinking. Reflect deeply on a topic, demonstrating the ability to deliberate on its validity by subjecting both one’s own and others’ convictions to debate.
Engage with topics involving multiple logical frameworks, recognizing the limitations of directly extrapolating concepts, methodologies, and information acquired through prior training.
CTR-6. Lifelong Autonomous Learning. Engage in continuous learning and develop autonomous and flexible learning strategies throughout life, in order to participate actively as a motivated and integrated citizen, contributing to employability and personal growth.
Critically access a variety of sources and available resources for learning. Initiate and sustain independent learning to manage time and information effectively.
3. Syllabus
Topic 1. Cultural areas and historical periods. Rock art.
Topic 2. The Olmecs.
Topic 3. Cultures of Central America.
Topic 4. The cultures of Ecuador and Peru.
Topic 5. The art of Teotihuacan.
Topic 6. Mayan culture.
Topic 7. Quimbaya, Mochica, Nazca and Tiahuanaco cultures.
Topic 8. Aztecs.
Topic 9. The Incas.
Topic 10. The cultural encounter.
Topic 11. The urbanism of the new cities.
Topic 12. Missions.
Topic 13. The new American cathedrals.
Topic 14. The Hispano-American Baroque.
Topic 15. Prevalences in the art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
4. Academic activities
The subject is fundamentally oriented to the establishment of the theoretical and practical bases of the study of the work of art of pre-Columbian and colonial times. To this end, the program includes the following activities:
1) Theoretical classes in the classroom.
2) Practical classes in different formats in the classroom or outside the classroom.
3) Study and personal work.
4) Tutorials: Guidance, individualized and in small groups, as well as the review of the tasks assigned to the student.
5) Assessment tests.
5. Assessment system
First call
Global assessment on the dates established in the academic calendar. It includes:
a) Written exam or test (60%): Duration: 2 hours. Two parts: a) Development of a topic (50% of the total grade of the exam); b) Identification and commentary of two works explained in class (50% of the total grade of the exam).
b) Practice report (20%): Duration: up to 30 minutes. Written test of a practical nature in which the student will answer a series of questions both cataloguing works and definitions seen in class.
c) Individual work (20%): Duration: up to 30 minutes. One or more questions relating to a text that has been provided or quoted by the teacher during the term will be answered in writing. At the beginning of the term, students will be informed in detail about the guidelines for each exercise.
General assessment criteria It will be valued that the student makes an orderly, well-structured and reasoned presentation.
Personal contribution will also be valued, based on individual work (readings and use of computer resources recommended), as well as the adequate use of artistic terminology, good presentation and formal and orthographic correctness.
Second call
Global assessment (100%) identical to the first call.
5.1. Academic fraud prevention
The use of unauthorised electronic materials or devices during the assessment may result in immediate exclusion from the examination and a fail mark (a numerical mark of ‘0’ for the assessment).
Furthermore, the lecturer in charge may complete the grade report and submit it to the General Inspectorate of Services, so that it may, where appropriate, consider initiating disciplinary proceedings against the student for academic fraud.
In the case of a continuous assessment exam [continuous assessment cannot continue, unless otherwise specified in the academic guide.]
In the case of a regular or extraordinary exam session, the initiation of disciplinary proceedings will result in the grade ‘pending resolution’ until the proceedings are concluded.
6. Sustainable Development Goals
4 - Quality Education
5 - Gender Equality
10 - Reduced Inequalities
7. Bibliography
Alcina Franch, José. El arte precolombino / José Alcina Madrid : Akal, D.L. 1990
Alcina Franch, José. Las claves del arte precolombino / José Alcina . - 1a. ed. Barcelona : Ariel, 1988
Alcina Franch, José. Las culturas precolombinas de América / José Alcina Franch [Madrid] : Alianza Editorial, D.L. 2009
Gutiérrez, Ramón. Arquitectura y urbanismo en Iberoamérica / Ramón Gutiérrez . - 5ª ed. Madrid : Cátedra, 2005
Historia del arte hispanoamericano. 1, Arte precolombino / José Alcina Franch . 1a. ed. Madrid : Alhambra, 1987
Historia del arte hispanoamericano. 2, Siglos XVI a XVIII / Jorge Bernales Ballesteros Madrid : Alhambra, 1987
Kubler, George. Arte y arquitectura en la América precolonial : los pueblos mexicanos, mayas y andinos / George Kubler . - 4ª ed. Madrid : Cátedra, 2003
PANO GRACIA, J. L. Manual de arte precolombino. 1a. ed. [s. l.]: Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza, 2021. ISBN 978-84-1340-373-1.
Pano Gracia, José Luis. Lo mejor del arte precolombino / José Luis Pano Gracia Madrid : Historia 16, D.L. 1997
Westheim, Paul. Arte antiguo de México / Paul Westheim ; versión española de Mariana Frenk Madrid : Alianza Editorial/Era, D.L. 1988