Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 Mexico

2. Mexico’s Land and Economy • Mexico is part of a LAND BRIDGE – This is a strip of land that connects two larger pieces of land. • What two continents does this land bridge connect? ____________________ & ________________________ • What other countries lie within this land bridge?

3. Mexico’s Land and Economy • Is Mexico part of North America, or South America? • Both!!!!!! • It is part of North America however its culture is more closely tied to South America.

4. Landscape • Using geography terms tell me some landforms or places that surround Mexico. • West • East • North • South __________ California, which is a long peninsula • Between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea there is another peninsula called the ________________ Peninsula.

5. Landscape • The landscape of Mexico is very rugged. Some would say that if you wanted to compare it to something you should crumple up a piece of paper with deep folds. There are tons of towering mountain ranges, and a huge plateau in central Mexico. • tell me some of the mountain ranges that you can find in Mexico.

6. Physical Mexico • There are three major mountain ranges found in Mexico. • These mountain ranges make up the __________ __________________ mountain range also known as the “mother range”. • Many of Mexico’s mountain ranges are actually made from __________________. • Some of the more active volcanoes in Mexico are • Popacatepetl “El Popo” – erupted violently centuries ago, then erupted again in December of 2000.

7. Physical Mexico • Earthquakes • A major earthquake hit Mexico City in 1985 • “Ring of Fire” – this is a very active volcano zone that forms the western, eastern, and northern edges of the Pacific Ocean. • Mexico is on the border of this ring of fire and therefore experiences a lot of side effects of the volcanoes.

8. Physical Mexico • Plateau of Mexico • Plateau of Mexico lies in the middle of Mexico • It is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. • Northern Plateau is deserts and grassy plains. • Middle Plateau is flat valleys where many of the chief cities lie. • Southern Plateau rises until it meets the snowcapped mountains of the Sierra Madre de Sur.

9. Physical Mexico • Coastal Lowlands • lowlands lie between the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and the coasts. • Pacific Coastal Plains – West – north is desert, further south you go the better soil for ranching and farming. • Gulf Coastal Plains – East - good for farming and raising animals

10. CLIMATES OF MEXICO • Mexico has an assortment of climate zones. This is due to the fact that the Tropic of ___________ cuts across the center of Mexico at _____________ degrees N Latitude. • If you live South of this line then you will experience a warm temperature throughout the year. • If you live North of this line you will experience a warm summer and a cooler winter

11. CLIMATES OF MEXICO • ALTITUDE • Altitude – height above sea level – also affects the climate of Mexico. • The _______________ the altitude the cooler the temperature will be. • The mountains and plateaus of Mexico give it three altitude Zones

12. CLIMATES OF MEXICO • Altitude Zones (page 193 in book ) • Tierra Caliente (“hot land”)– coastal lowland area which are close to sea level they have a HIGH TEMPERATURE. • Tierra Templada (“temperate land”) – moderate clime not too hot, not too cold. Middle elevation • Tierra Fria (“cold land”) – becomes very cool in this area because it is the highest elevation

13. CLIMATES OF MEXICO • Baja California and Northern Mexico get very little rainfall • Most rainfall occurs during the summer months of Mexico and in mid to southern parts. • June to October lots of Hurricane season

14. Economics • Mexico’s economy rank in the top 15 most important economies in the world. • ii. There are three distinct economic regions • NORTH – Farming and Manufacturing • Farmers called Vaqueros (cowhands)– developed the tools and techniques used by Americans in herding and ranching animals. • Cities are filled with Maquiladoras – factories built to assemble parts made in other countries.

15. Economics • The north is quickly growing but due to this advancement in economy growing environmental concerns are also becoming an issue. • CENTRAL – More than ½ of Mexico’s population lives here. • Area has a great climate and soil which makes for a comfortable living space.

16. Economics • SOUTH – Poorest of all economic regions due to its poor soil and towering mountains. • Subsistence Farming – small plots where farmers grow enough food to feed themselves is common here. • However in the coastal lowlands of this area there are plantations – large farms where owners grow sugarcane and bananas.

17. Economics • Mexico today relies less on farming and more on manufacturing this makes it a __________________ economy.

18. OLMECS • Olmecs – Built the first civilization in the Americas around 1200 B.C. • Olmecs carved huge statues, and they also carved jewelry out of Jade. • All of the objects that they carved were created from obsidian – a hard black glass created by volcanoes. (they had no metals) • Olmecs were also the first to grow maize

19. Mayans • Mayans – lived in the Yucatan Peninsula (rain forests) from A.D.250 to A.D. 900. • Very religious people in order to keep their religious schedule they studied the heavens and developed our ______________________. • They built huge stone temples • Developed _________________ a form of writing that uses signs and symbols • Complex number system • Drew _______________ - wall paintings on the walls of tombs and temples.

20. Aztecs • Lived in central Mexico around A.D.1200. • Capital was Tenochtitlan which is where Mexico City is found today. • Left many traditions in Mexico which are still alive today. • Flag (eagle with a snake on its beak) honor the Aztecs.

21. Spanish Mexico • 1519 Cortez Spanish army leader led his men into Tenochtitlan and took over making Mexico a Spanish Colony. • ii.Many Spanish came over and raised cattle on their ___________________ large ranches. • iii.Roman Catholic became the religion of choice

22. Independence and Revolution • 1810 Catholic priest Hidalgo led a revolution against the Spanish starting the rebellions against the Spanish in Mexico. • 1821 Mexico wins its independence from Spain. • 1824 set up a Republic with an elected president. • Shortly after fight Americans for Texas and lose

23. Mexico’s Cities and Villages • Cities – PLAZAS- public squares • Around the plazas are important buildings such as churches and government centers. • Many homes in rural Mexico are made of ADOBE- sun dried clay bricks.

24. Food and Celebrations • Spicy foods – corn, beef, chicken, cheese, beans, chocolate • Fiestas – celebrations • Mariachi – bands that play horns, violins, guitars play at the fiestas. • Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) celebration for the day in 1862 when Mexicans defeated an invading French army. • November 2nd – The Day of the Dead- gather to honor and remember their dead loved ones.

25. Government • Federal Republic – power is divided among national and state governments. • President that leads the national government more power in the national governments than in the state governments (United States)