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HUM 143: Introduction to Latin American/Latino Studies

Research aid for students in Prof. Francisco Pina's classes

Searching the databases

Our database subscriptions allow for access to copyrighted content including academic journals, eBooks, magazines, newspapers, etc. Not every database can be used to answer every research question.

Try these search terms in various combinations to locate database articles and other materials:

  • Object name such as "Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun"
  • Place name such as "Cuzco"
  • Culture name such as Zapotec

Descriptive terms such as:

  • Archeological site
  • Artifact
  • Iconography
  • Symbolism
  • Ritual
  • Ceremony
  • Mythology
  • Religion
  • Belief system
  • Calendar
  • Astronomy
  • Mathematics
  • Writing system
  • Language
  • Oral tradition
  • Social structure
  • Political system
  • Economic system
  • Trade
  • Technology
  • Agriculture
  • Urban planning
  • Settlement pattern

By combining these terms, you can refine your search to focus on specific aspects of a culture or civilization. For example, searching for "Maya ritual mural" would help you find information about murals depicting Mayan rituals.

More tips:

  • Avoid words like whatinthehow, etc.
  • Select peer-reviewed to limit to scholarly articles.
  • Many databases provide full-text access as well as abstract-only access. Always click full-text if given the option!
  • Change the date range to get more recent results. For example, to find articles about Mesoamerican art from the past 10 years, you might search for "Mesoamerican art" and then adjust the date range to "2014-2024."

Click here or scroll down for information on Library databases, internet resources, and finding escritos en español.

Links to leading academic journals on Mesoamerican art, provided through the City College's subscription databases.


*También puede encontrar recursos escritos en español seleccionando "Spanish" en los filtros de una base de datos. Por ejemplo, si busca "Mesoamerican art" en JSTOR y selecciona "Spanish" como idioma, obtendrá estos resultados.

Research databases & internet resources

También puede encontrar recursos escritos en español seleccionando "Spanish" en los filtros de una base de datos.

Por ejemplo, si busca "Mesoamerican art" en JSTOR y selecciona "Spanish" como idioma, obtendrá estos resultados.