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MEXICO. Tenochtitlan Capital of the Aztec Civilization. THE AZTECS & THE SPANISH. Aztecs Rose in the Valley of Mexico in 1200 AD From deserts of northern Mexico Built their capital of Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan City of beautiful temples, gardens & lakes,
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Tenochtitlan Capital of the Aztec Civilization
THE AZTECS & THE SPANISH • Aztecs • Rose in the Valley of Mexico in 1200 AD • From deserts of northern Mexico • Built their capital of Tenochtitlan • Tenochtitlan • City of beautiful temples, gardens & lakes, • The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice in their temples • Destroyed by the Spanish and Cortes • Built Mexico city over its ruins
NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE SPANISH CONQUEST Natives: Toltecs, Maya, Aztecs… Spanish conquest lead to the downfall of the Aztecs 1519 :Hernando Cortez landed on the coast of Mexico 1521 : Cortes and his men conquered the Aztecs
THE AZTECS & THE SPANISH • Spanish brought language and catholic religion • Mexico’s native heritage remains strong in spite of diffusion • Name origin : name comes from Mexica (older name for Aztecs) • Mestizopopulation = people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage
COLONIALISM & INDEPENDENCE • Conflict between native people and settlers from Spain • Blending of Spanish and Indian cultures • Greatly affected Mexico’s development
A MEETING OF CULTURES The culture of Mexico is a blend of Spanish influences with original native cultures
COLONY & COUNTRY 1821:Mexico declares independence from Spain. Mid 19th century : Benito Juarez led a reform moment and became president of México. 1917 : New constitution was adopted = redistributed half of Mexico to peasants
LEADERS • Benito Juarez • Served 5 terms from 1858 to 1872 • Worked for separation of church and state • Better education opportunities • Even distribution of land. • Took land from rich and gave to peasants • Porfirio Dias • Served 2 terms, 1876-1880 and 1884-1911 • Successor of Benito Juarez • Dishonest politician • Brought about a civil war and a revolution • led by Francisco Madero, Pancho Villa • and Emiliano Zapata in 1910.
ONE PARTY RULE • 1929 : New party = institutional revolutionary party (PRI) • Helped introduce democracy • Maintain political stability • Continued redistribution lands to peasants 2000 : Vicente Fox was elected president For the first time in 71 yrs PRI did not control Mexico 2000 election = Mexico was gradually becoming democratic
ECONOMICS: CITIES AND FACTORIES • 2 economic challenges : • Close gap between rich and poor • Develop a modern industrial economy • Mexico has traditionally been an agricultural society, although industrialization started in the mid 20th century
POPULATION & CITIES • Movement to cities • More job opportunity • More pay • Help reduce gap between rich and poor • 1970: population 52 million • 2000: double that of 1970 at 109 million
OIL & MANUFACTURING • Large oil reserves along Gulf of Mexico • Oil = Positive step to industrialization • Helped finance development • Manufacturing: Most important part of economic development. The factories are located north near the U.S. border • Maquiladoras: Factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials in to finished goods.
NAFTA • NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement • Mexico, US, Canada • Created huge zone of cooperation on trade • Imported tariffs on imported goods are slowly being reduced
MEXICAN LIFE TODAY! • Big challenges: Jobs, Emigration & Education • EMIGRATION • Due to rapidly growing population & government policies • In search of work • Separates families • WORK AND SCHOOL • 85 % of school age kids attend school today
Mexico City Is the largest city in the world (19 million inhabitants)
It is the cultural capital of Mexico as well as the political capital.