10.2 History and Culture
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Transcript 10.2 History and Culture
10.2 History and Culture
Pg. 224
Early Mexico
Early people belonged to many
cultures and each had their own
language.
Most were hunter-gatherers.
Main crops were beans, corn,
peppers, and squash.
Grew them together in the same
fields, called milpa.
Continued
Indian civilizations included: Maya,
Olmec, Toltec, and Zapotec. Very
complex and accomplished.
The last was the Aztec. Aztec built an
empire in what is now central and
southern Mexico.
Capital City, Tenochtitlan, occupied an
island in a lake (near Mexico City)
The Colonial Period
1519 a band of Spanish adventurers
landed on the eastern coast of
Mexico.
Called Conquistadors or Conquerors.
Formed alliances with tribes who
didn’t like the Aztec.
Small pox arrived with the Spanish.
Continued
American Indians had no resistance
to it. Killed many, and weakened
the Aztec’s.
Spaniards captured the Aztec
capital.
Spanish called the area New Spain.
Built Mexico City on Tenochtitlan.
Tenochtitlan
Continued
Desire for Gold and Silver had been
a major motive for the Spanish.
Spanish organized the land into
haciendas – large estates usually
owned by wealthy families by
worked by peasants (Indians).
Roman Catholic Priests tried to
convert AI to Christianity.
Mexican Hacienda
Mexico since Independence
Rapid, sometimes violent political
change.
Independence and
Revolution
1810 Mexicans began to revolt
against Spanish rule.
1821 won independence.
A few powerful families still
controlled the economy and the
government.
1848 Mexico lost its northern
territory to the U.S.
Continued
Most Mexicans remained poor.
Led to the Mexican Revolution,
which lasted from 1910 to 1920.
President ruled like a dictator and
held most of the power.
Many foreign owned companies were
forced out.
Continued
Result of the revolution – land
reform. Large haciendas were
broken up and given to peasant
villages.
New land system was not very
successful.
In 1992 the farmers were allowed to
sell their land.
Modern Mexico
Since 1990 Mexico had again
opened its economy to foreign
business.
Increasingly urban.
¾ of Mexicans now live in towns and
cities.
In 1992 the U.S., Canada, and
Mexico signed NAFTA.
Continued
NAFTA – lowered trade barriers
between the three countries.
Manufacturing in Mexico had
expanded.
Tourism has become increasingly
important.
Acapulco, Cancun and Mazatlan.