3-3 History of Mexico

A brief tour of Mexico's history, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, the conquistadors, and the Mexican-American War.

1. History of MexicoHistory of Mexico
Chapter 3-3Chapter 3-3

2. Section ObjectivesSection Objectives
Describe the cultural achievements of the Maya and the Describe the cultural achievements of the Maya and the
AztecAztec
Evaluate the success of the Spanish army over the Evaluate the success of the Spanish army over the
Aztec EmpireAztec Empire
Understand the relationship between social class Understand the relationship between social class
structure and the movement for Mexican independence structure and the movement for Mexican independence
from Spainfrom Spain
Describe the conflict with the United States that led to Describe the conflict with the United States that led to
Mexico’s current borders.Mexico’s current borders.
Synthesize information about the goals and results of the Synthesize information about the goals and results of the
Mexican Revolution from primary sources.Mexican Revolution from primary sources.

3. The Maya and the AztecsThe Maya and the Aztecs
Native Americans came Native Americans came
to Mexico thousands of to Mexico thousands of
years ago. years ago.
These people built a These people built a
series of brilliant, highly series of brilliant, highly
advanced advanced civilizationscivilizations, ,
or societies with a or societies with a
highly developed highly developed
culture, politics, and culture, politics, and
technologytechnology

4. The OlmecThe Olmec
The The OlmecOlmec built the first civilization built the first civilization
in the Americas, around 1200 B.C. in the Americas, around 1200 B.C.
It lasted longer (800 years) than any It lasted longer (800 years) than any
other Native American civilization.other Native American civilization.

5. The Olmec, cont.The Olmec, cont.
The Olmec carved The Olmec carved
large stone statues large stone statues
and made jewelry out and made jewelry out
of of jadejade, a local shiny , a local shiny
stone. They carved stone. They carved
these items with these items with
obsidian, a hard, black obsidian, a hard, black
glass created by glass created by
volcanoes. volcanoes.
The Olmec were the The Olmec were the
first to grow first to grow maizemaize, or , or
corn.corn.

6. The Olmecs, cont.The Olmecs, cont.

7. The MayaThe Maya
Around 100 B.C., the Maya began to develop Around 100 B.C., the Maya began to develop
a new civilizationa new civilization
They built huge stone temples on the They built huge stone temples on the
YucatanYucatan Peninsula, in the shape of pyramids Peninsula, in the shape of pyramids
with steps.with steps.

8. The Mayans, cont.The Mayans, cont.
The Maya The Maya
developed developed
hieroglyphicshieroglyphics, ,
a form of writing a form of writing
that uses signs that uses signs
and symbols, and and symbols, and
a calendar of a calendar of 365365
daysdays
They were very They were very
good at good at
autonomy,autonomy, or or
self-governmentself-government

9. The Mayans, cont.The Mayans, cont.
Artists decorated Artists decorated
temples and tombs temples and tombs
with elaborate murals, with elaborate murals,
or wall paintingsor wall paintings
No one is sure why the No one is sure why the
Mayan civilization Mayan civilization
declineddeclined
Possibilities include Possibilities include
warfare, disease, and warfare, disease, and
over-farming over-farming

10. The Mayans, cont.The Mayans, cont.
Visit Chichen Itza! (3:30)

11. The Mayans TodayThe Mayans Today
The Mayan People (2:54)

12. The AztecsThe Aztecs
Around A.D. 1200, Around A.D. 1200,
a people called the a people called the
Aztecs (Mexica) Aztecs (Mexica)
moved into central moved into central
Mexico from the Mexico from the
north. north.

The Aztec built The Aztec built
their capital at their capital at
TenochtitlánTenochtitlán
(present–day (present–day
Mexico City).Mexico City).

13. The AztecsThe Aztecs
They also constructed They also constructed
human-made islands called human-made islands called
chinampaschinampas, or floating , or floating
gardens, on the lake to gardens, on the lake to
grow more foodgrow more food
Tenochtitlan: The Impossible City (5:21)Tenochtitlan: The Impossible City (5:21)
The Aztecs build a broad The Aztecs build a broad
empireempire – an extensive – an extensive
group of people governed group of people governed
by one ruler – through by one ruler – through
military conquest.military conquest.

14. The Aztecs, cont.The Aztecs, cont.
They collected They collected tributetribute, ,
or fees, from the or fees, from the
people they ruledpeople they ruled
Some tribute was paid Some tribute was paid
in the form of in the form of humanhuman
sacrifices to satisfy sacrifices to satisfy
their godstheir gods
Aztec Sacrifices: A Aztec Sacrifices: A
Coroner's Report (3:42)Coroner's Report (3:42)

15. Teotihuacan: Influence on the AztecsTeotihuacan: Influence on the Aztecs
Sun Pyramid:
3rd largest in
the world!
(233 feet high,
base is 1466
sq.feet!)
Pyramid of the Moon

16. The Aztecs, cont.The Aztecs, cont.
Many of their traditions survive today in Many of their traditions survive today in
Mexico, including food, crafts, and Mexico, including food, crafts, and
language.language.

17. The The
ConquistadorsConquistadors
In the early 1500s, a In the early 1500s, a
conquistadorconquistador,, or or
Spanish soldier-explorer, Spanish soldier-explorer,
named Hernán Cortez named Hernán Cortez
landed in Mexicolanded in Mexico
The Aztec ruler, The Aztec ruler,
MontezumaMontezuma, welcomed , welcomed
himhim
Within 3 years, Cortez Within 3 years, Cortez
captured the city, burned captured the city, burned
it down, and built it down, and built Mexico Mexico
CityCity on top of the ruins on top of the ruins
Hernan Cortez (2:56)Hernan Cortez (2:56)

18. The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors
Some of the early Spanish Some of the early Spanish
settlers raised cattle on large settlers raised cattle on large
ranches called ranches called haciendashaciendas. .
Others started gold and silver Others started gold and silver
mines.mines.
During this time, thousands of During this time, thousands of
Native Americans died from Native Americans died from
mistreatment and disease mistreatment and disease
while forced to work on while forced to work on
ranches and in mines.ranches and in mines.
Illnesses like measles and Illnesses like measles and
smallpox became smallpox became epidemicsepidemics, ,
or disease outbreaksor disease outbreaks

19. The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors
Spanish priests came Spanish priests came
to Mexico to convert to Mexico to convert
Native Americans to Native Americans to
Christianity. Christianity.
Today about 90 percent Today about 90 percent
of Mexicans are of Mexicans are
Roman CatholicRoman Catholic

20. The Cathedrals of MexicoThe Cathedrals of Mexico

21. Mexican IndependenceMexican Independence
In 1810, In 1810, Miguel Hildalgo Miguel Hildalgo rebelled against rebelled against
Spain. He was captured and executed in Spain. He was captured and executed in
18111811
In 1813, José Morelos declared In 1813, José Morelos declared
independence and formed a independence and formed a republicrepublic, or a , or a
government of elected officialsgovernment of elected officials
Mexicans won their independence from Mexicans won their independence from
Spain in Spain in 18211821, under the leadership of , under the leadership of
Colonel Augustín de Iturbide.Colonel Augustín de Iturbide.
His reign was cut short when General His reign was cut short when General
Santa Anna rebelled against him.Santa Anna rebelled against him.
He was He was exiledexiled, or forced to leave the , or forced to leave the
country.country.
In 1824 Mexicans set up a republic with In 1824 Mexicans set up a republic with
General Antonio Lopez de General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Santa Anna as as
president.president.
Mexican Independence (5:00)Mexican Independence (5:00)

22. The U.S.-Mexican WarThe U.S.-Mexican War
In 1836, In 1836, TexasTexas declared declared
itself independent from itself independent from
Mexico. Mexico.
““Remember the Remember the AlamoAlamo””!!
In 1845, Texas joined the In 1845, Texas joined the
United States through United States through
annexationannexation, or adding , or adding
territoryterritory
In 1846, the U.S. went to In 1846, the U.S. went to
war with Mexico over war with Mexico over
border disputes about border disputes about
TexasTexas’s southern ’s southern
boundary. boundary.

23. The U.S.-Mexican WarThe U.S.-Mexican War
By 1848, American soldiers By 1848, American soldiers
occupied occupied Mexico City.Mexico City.
Eventually the Treaty of Eventually the Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo Guadalupe-Hidalgo gave gave
the U.S. the territories of the U.S. the territories of
California, Utah, Nevada, California, Utah, Nevada,
and the Rio Grande as the and the Rio Grande as the
southern boundary for southern boundary for
TexasTexas
Treaty of G-H, Punk Rock Version Treaty of G-H, Punk Rock Version
(1:38)(1:38)
In Mexico, many people In Mexico, many people
opposedopposed, or objected to, this , or objected to, this
decisiondecision

24. La Reforma – The ReformLa Reforma – The Reform
In 1857, Benito Juárez, the first In 1857, Benito Juárez, the first
Native AmericanNative American president of president of
Mexico, promoted social equalityMexico, promoted social equality
He was opposed by the military He was opposed by the military
and religious leadersand religious leaders
He spent his life fighting for He spent his life fighting for
democracy, and also expelling democracy, and also expelling
FranceFrance from Mexico when they from Mexico when they
took over in 1864.took over in 1864.
He is remembered as a great He is remembered as a great
leader every year on Benito leader every year on Benito
Juárez day, the third Monday of Juárez day, the third Monday of
each March.each March.

25. The Mexican RevolutionThe Mexican Revolution
In 1910 In 1910 Emiliano Zapata Emiliano Zapata and and
Pancho Villa Pancho Villa led a revolution led a revolution
with the goals of giving the with the goals of giving the
poor poor “the lands, woods, and “the lands, woods, and
water that the landlords or water that the landlords or
bosses have taken from us.”bosses have taken from us.”

ZapataZapata’s forces swooped ’s forces swooped
down and seized many large down and seized many large
haciendas from the richhaciendas from the rich
One of their goals was One of their goals was land land
reformreform, or dividing the land , or dividing the land
among the pooramong the poor
Mexican Revolution (5:00)Mexican Revolution (5:00)
Pancho Villa & Emiliano Zapata

26. Any Questions?Any Questions?
¿Hay Preguntas?¿Hay Preguntas?