Mexico

1. Mexico

2. Location: Bridging Two Continents • Mexico forms part of a land bridge that connects North and South America • Land bridge = a narrow strip of land that joins two larger landmasses • The widest part of Mexico borders the United States • The narrowest point is at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

3. Location: Bridging Two Continents • The Pacific Ocean borders Mexico on the west • On the west coast is Baja California – it is a long peninsula • The Gulf of Mexico and a portion of the Caribbean Sea border Mexico on the East • Jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico another peninsula – the Yucatan Peninsula

4. Place: The Land Characteristics • Mexico has a very rugged landscape. • It sits where some plates of the earth’s crust have collided, and are continuing to collide. • This causes volcanoes and earthquakes • A famous volcano is Popocatepetl • The Aztecs, a group of Native Latin Americans, called Mexico, the “land of the shaking earth”.

5. Place: Mountains/Plateaus • Three major mountain ranges tower over Mexico – the Sierra Madre Occidentals (runs north-south), Sierra Madre Oriental (runs on the eastern side) and the Sierra Madre del Sur (southwestern Mexico) • The Sierra Madres surround the large, flat center of the country, also known as the Plateau of Mexico – it covers 40% of the country!

6. Place: Coastal Lowlands • Mexico’s coastal plains stretch along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico • Many of the rivers flow through these plains • The Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico and forms about 1,300 miles of Mexico’s border with the United States

7. Region: Climate • Mexico has different climates – latitude affects the temperatures • Mexico’s mountains also affect its temperatures • The tierracalienteis hot and humid all year and average 77 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit. It includes dense rain forests or tall grasses • Bananas, rice, sugarcane and oranges grow here

8. Region: Climate • As you climb the mountains, the temperatures become cooler – the trees are larger and have more leaves. This is also known as the tierratemplada(temperate land) • When you reach the top of the mountains, it becomes very cold. This is also known as the tierrafria

9. Region: Economic Regions • Manufacturing and mining are vital to the Mexican economy. • Almost 1/5th of the world’s silver is mined in Mexico. • Service industries also strengthen the country’s economy • Service industry – provides services to people instead of making goods • Services in Mexico include banking and tourism

10. Region: Economic Regions • Mexico is rich in minerals, but the soil isn’t very fertile • Mountains, deserts and rain forests limit the land that can be farmed to only 11% of the total area • Farmers can plant coffee, corn, cotton, oranges and sugarcane on the land that can be farmed

11. Region: Economic Regions • Central Mexico • The economic heart of the country • Home to ½ the population and allows for agriculture to flourish • Mexico City and Guadalajara are located here • About 24 million people live in Mexico City and its suburbs – it is also the capital

12. Region: Economic Regions • Northern Mexico • Includes Baja California and the northern part of the Plateau of Mexico • Much of the land is too dry to farm, but irrigation helps cotton, fruits, cereals and vegetables to grow • In hilly areas, ranchers raise cattle, sheep, goats and pigs • The idea of the “cowboy” originated in Mexico

13. Region: Economic Regions • The North (continued) • The largest city in the region is Monterrey, which leads the country in steel production • They mine copper, silver, lead and zinc • Others are employed in maquiladoras(factories) that assemble parts shipped to other countries including automobiles, stereo systems, computers and other electronic products

14. Region: Economic Regions • The South • Stretches from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula • People have lived here since at least 2000 BC • Traditionally, these are the poorest people in Mexico • They rely on subsistence farming – small plots where they only grow enough food to feed their families • Wealthy farmers grow coffee or sugarcane on plantations • Tourism is also very important in the south

15. HEI: Economic Challenges • Mexico has started to industrialize in the last 50 years • This means that it has become less dependent on farming and more dependent on factories and work in the cities • Issues have begun to arise with industrialization: conserving land, controlling pollution, creating new jobs and increasing trade with other nations

16. HEI: Economic Challenges • Pollution • Mountains surrounding Mexico City block the flow of air • This causes many factories and cars to pollute the air and leave a thick haze of smog to settle over the city • Smog = fog mixed with smoke and chemicals • Many schoolchildren wear masks at recess to filter out the pollution and, at times, the pollution keeps people indoors • Farmers in the countryside burn wild vegetation to clear land

17. HEI: Economic Challenges • Population Changes • Mexico’s population is growing twice as fast as the population of the United States • Health care and diet have improved – allowing Mexicans to live longer • However, with the increase, there are not enough jobs for all the people that want to work. • Heavy populations strain resources • Many move to the United States to work – some legally, others illegally

18. HEI: Free Trade • In 1993, Mexico, the United States and Canada approved the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • The agreement allowed goods and money to move freely among the countries • Many hope that this will continue to increase trade and help Mexico’s economy grow

19. Place: Influences of the Past • There are generally three different periods when considering Mexican history • The Native Americans • The Spanish rule • Modern Mexico

20. Place: Native Americans • The first people to live in Mexico came from Asia. • They traveled through North America from Asia and entered Mexico thousands of years ago.

21. Place: Native Americas • The Maya flourished in the Yucatan area between 250 and 900 A.D. • They built cities around towering stone temples in thick rain forests • They honored Maya gods and rulers

22. Place: Native Americans • Around 1200 the Mexica, or the Aztec, built a city named Tenochtitlan in central Mexico • Current location of Mexico City • The Aztec were fierce warriors as well as builders and traders. • Merchants in Tenochtitlan set up marketplaces, which were filled with pottery, woven baskets, cloth, gold and silver

23. Place: The Spanish Heritage • In 1519, a Spanish army led by Hérnan Cortes arrived on Mexican soil and in 1521, conquered the Aztec • Mexico remained a Spanish colony for about 300 years

24. Place: The Spanish Heritage • During that time, many Spaniards controlled the lives of Native Americans, forcing them to work on farms and in mines • Because of this, the cultures mixed • A mesitzo refers to a person of mixed Native American and European heritage • Approximately 60% of Mexico’s people are mesitzos

25. Place: The Spanish Heritage • The Spanish also brought Roman Catholicism to Mexico. • Most Mexicans today, about 90%, are Roman Catholic • Festivals honor the country’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalope

26. Place: Modern Mexico • Mexico gained its freedom from Spain in 1821 • During much of the 1800s, a few wealthy families, the army and church leaders controlled the government • In 1910, after years of discontent, a revolution broke out • The revolution lasted until the 1920s and influenced the country’s government

27. Place: Modern Mexico • Like the United States, Mexico is a federal republic • A national government with 31 state governments share powers • Until recently, one political party ruled Mexico • However, because of continued discontent, the people demanded reforms (changes). • Now, other political parties are beginning to win elections

28. Place: City Life • Almost 75% of the Mexican population live in the cities • The cities are both modern and old • Areas of beautifully preserved homes are found in many Mexican cities • Most of these homes are made out of adobe – or, sun-dried clay brick • They are often built around courtyards with fountains and pots of blooming plants

29. Place: Country Life • Most Mexican villages are poor • Some village homes are built out of cement blocks with a flat, red tiled roof • Others are made out of sheet metal, straw or clay • Most villages have a central plaza, a few shops and the local government building • Almost every village has a marketplace

30. Place: The Arts • Mexican art explores and represents the pride of the people in their achievements and their heritage • Influences come from their history • Painters – Mexicans are known for their murals. Famous artists include Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera

31. Place: The Arts • Music and Dance – Mexicans listen to all kinds of music • Traditional music is played by a mariachi band • They consist of a singer, two violinists, two guitarists, two horn players and a bass player

32. Place: Celebrations • Throughout the year, Mexicans enjoy special celebrations called fiestas • Fiestas include parades, fireworks, music and dancing • Both Independence Day (September 15-16) and Cinco de Mayo are patriotic days

33. Place: Foods • Traditional Mexican food combines Spanish and Native American cooking. • Corn has always been the most important food in Mexico • Mexicans make tortilla and use those tortillas to make things such as tacos

34. Place: Sports • The national sport of Mexico is soccer • Most soccer games are played in Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium • Baseball is also popular • Bullfighting is a popular spectator sport with tourists – but the population has mixed feelings about it.