Mexico History

1. MexicoHistory Honors World Geography

2. Aztecs---Background • 1300’s --- arrived in Valley of Mexico • poor, nomadic people from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico • Established their capital at Tenochtitlan (near Mexico City) • Power in the Aztec nation in the hands of a monarch • claimed they descended from gods • Polytheistic

3. Map of Aztec Empire

4. Background continued • While under attack in 1325, Aztecs driven to Lake Texcoco • According to Aztec legend, their journey would end when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus growing out of a rock • Aztecs saw eagle built the city of Tenochtitlan • Place of the prickly cactus

6. Tenochtitlan: A Planned City • Characteristics of Tenochtitlan: • 200,000-400,000 population (1) • Many roads/streets (2) • Major marketplace to buy and sell goods (3) • Massive walled, complex filled w/ palaces and temples (4)

8. Aztec Religion • based on the belief of an unending strugglebtwn the forces of good & evil • Aztecs practiced human sacrifice • Aztecs thought a sign of a god of war& of the sun would come to their aid & end their journey on Earth • IMPORTANT: • This belief would ultimately lead to the destruction of the Aztecs

9. Aztec Sacrifices to the Sun God • Why sacrifices were made to the Sun god: • Said the Sun god needed strength to fight the forces of evil • He needed nourishment from human blood • If Sun god was not nourished, he would be too weak to fight and the sun would not rise, world would be dark and life would perish • Belief will ultimately lead to their destruction

10. Quetzalcoatl

11. Aztecs & the Spanish • 1519: Spanish forces led by Hernan Cortes landed at Veracruz • Veracruz is off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico • Montezuma, the Aztec monarch, welcomed the Spanishw/ open arms offering them gold and other gifts • Montezuma thought Cortes was the god of the sun they were looking for • W/ tensions rising, Cortes knew he could take the Aztecs easily

16. Aztecs and the Spanish continued • The Spanish took Montezuma hostage and began to pillage the city of Tenochtitlan • 1520: Aztecs tried to revolt, but the Aztecs were finally defeated by Cortes due to: • Cortes received fresh troops(1) • The Spanish had horses & more experienced weaponry(2) • Aztecs were not immune to European disease, such as smallpox(3)

20. Spanish Conquest of Mexico • Spanish named new colony Nueva Espana or New Spain • Desire for gold & silver were major motives for the Spanish to colonize the Americas • Agriculture also became important to the colonial economy • Native Americans mostly owned & worked the land • the lands worked in common were called ejidos • Spanish organized these lands into haciendas • Haciendas: large estates usually owned by wealthy families but worked by many peasants

21. Spanish Conquest of Mexico continued • Roman Catholic missionariestried to convert the Native Americans to Christianity • Towns grew up around churches • Development of the plaza • Plaza: open space in front of a church that might become a center for a market community • Throughout Mexico’s history, the Spanish & Native American cultures mixed • Mestizos: people of Spanish & Native American ancestry

22. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence • Manuel Hidalgo • Roman Catholic priest • Roused local Indians & mestizos to free themselves from Spain • September 16, 1810: Hidalgo & local Indians/mestizos attacked the Spanish • Hidalgo lost and was put to death • Event IMPORTANT b/c: • Uprising not a success, but considered the 1st event for Mexican Independence against Spain

23. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued • Attempts to revolt against Spain continued during the 1800’s • The creoles & peninsulares banded together to defeat the Spanish • Creoles: descendants of Europeans born in Latin America • Peninsulares: Spanish officials that temporary resided in Mexico for political/economic gain • 1823: Mexico was a republic • IMP: Mexico became independent from Spain

25. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued Santa-Ana • Mexico had no strong leaders so caudillos came to power • Caudillo: leader that ruled w/ military force & was supported by landed elites • 1833-1845---Mexico ruled by Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana • Texas was a part of Mexico @ the time of his rule • Texas wanted independence from Mexico; many revolted • Alamo---famous battle/Texans lost everyone • San Jaciento---famous battle/Texans revenged loss @ Alamo

27. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued • Santa-Analost the Texas revolt for independence • Santa Ana quote: • Say to Mr. Poinsett that it is very true that I threw up my cap for liberty with great ardor, and perfect sincerity, but very soon found the folly of it. A hundred years to come my people will not be fit for liberty. They do not know what it is, unenlightened as they are, and under the influence of a Catholic clergy, a despotism is the proper government for them, but there is no reason why it should not be a wise and virtuous one. • What does it mean?

28. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued • Porfino Diaz • Ruled Mexico from 1877-1911 • Ruled Mexico as a dictator • Diaz was supported by the Catholic Church, foreign capitalists, military& elite landowners • Diaz was forced out of power • IMPORTANT: • Diaz’s reign set the stage for the Mexican Revolution

30. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued • Emiliana Zapata • Zapata was a peasant that led a revolt against the elite landowners • SIGNIFICANCE: • Zapata was a symbol for the beginning of the Mexican Revolution

32. Revolt in Mexico/Mexican Independence continued • Mexican Revolution • Lasted from 1910-1920 • Reason for war: • Landless peasants tired of wealthy estate owners controlling gov’t • More landless peasants than wealthy landowners • Outcome: • landless peasants won revolution