The Maya and Aztec civilizations developed advanced cultures in Mexico, building pyramids and temples. The Maya invented hieroglyphics and advanced calendars. The Aztecs built the large city of Tenochtitlan and had a broad empire supported by tribute payments. In the early 1500s, the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes defeated the Aztec Empire and established Mexico City on its ruins. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 after leaders like Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Morelos led rebellions. Later conflicts with the United States resulted in Mexico losing territory in the Mexican-American War. The Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s was led by Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa to

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

2. Section ObjectivesSection Objectives
 Describe the cultural achievements of the Maya and theDescribe the cultural achievements of the Maya and the
AztecAztec
 Evaluate the success of the Spanish army over theEvaluate the success of the Spanish army over the
Aztec EmpireAztec Empire
 Understand the relationship between social classUnderstand the relationship between social class
structure and the movement for Mexican independencestructure and the movement for Mexican independence
from Spainfrom Spain
 Describe the conflict with the United States that led toDescribe 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 theSynthesize 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 cameNative Americans came
to Mexico thousands ofto Mexico thousands of
years ago.years ago.
 These people built aThese people built a
series of brilliant, highlyseries of brilliant, highly
advancedadvanced civilizationscivilizations,,
or societies with aor societies with a
highly developedhighly developed
culture, politics, andculture, politics, and
technologytechnology

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

5. The Olmec, cont.The Olmec, cont.
 The Olmec carvedThe Olmec carved
large stone statueslarge stone statues
and made jewelry outand made jewelry out
ofof jadejade, a local shiny, a local shiny
stone. They carvedstone. They carved
these items withthese items with
obsidian, a hard, blackobsidian, a hard, black
glass created byglass created by
volcanoes.volcanoes.
 The Olmec were theThe Olmec were the
first to growfirst 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 developAround 100 B.C., the Maya began to develop
a new civilizationa new civilization
 They built huge stone temples on theThey built huge stone temples on the
YucatanYucatan Peninsula, in the shape of pyramidsPeninsula, in the shape of pyramids
with steps.with steps.

8. The Mayans, cont.The Mayans, cont.
 The MayaThe Maya
developeddeveloped
hieroglyphicshieroglyphics,,
a form of writinga form of writing
that uses signsthat uses signs
and symbols, andand symbols, and
a calendar ofa calendar of 365365
daysdays
 They were veryThey were very
good atgood at
autonomy,autonomy, oror
self-governmentself-government

9. The Mayans, cont.The Mayans, cont.
 Artists decoratedArtists decorated
temples and tombstemples and tombs
with elaborate murals,with elaborate murals,
or wall paintingsor wall paintings
 No one is sure why theNo one is sure why the
Mayan civilizationMayan civilization
declineddeclined
 Possibilities includePossibilities include
warfare, disease, andwarfare, disease, and
over-farmingover-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 thea people called the
Aztecs (Mexica)Aztecs (Mexica)
moved into centralmoved into central
Mexico from theMexico from the
north.north.
 The Aztec builtThe Aztec built
their capital attheir capital at
TenochtitlánTenochtitlán
(present–day(present–day
Mexico City).Mexico City).

13. The AztecsThe Aztecs
 They also constructedThey also constructed
human-made islands calledhuman-made islands called
chinampaschinampas, or floating, or floating
gardens, on the lake togardens, 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 broadThe Aztecs build a broad
empireempire – an extensive– an extensive
group of people governedgroup of people governed
by one ruler – throughby one ruler – through
military conquest.military conquest.

14. The Aztecs, cont.The Aztecs, cont.
 They collectedThey collected tributetribute,,
or fees, from theor fees, from the
people they ruledpeople they ruled
 Some tribute was paidSome tribute was paid
in the form ofin the form of humanhuman
sacrifices to satisfysacrifices to satisfy
their godstheir gods
 Aztec Sacrifices: AAztec 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 inMany of their traditions survive today in
Mexico, including food, crafts, andMexico, including food, crafts, and
language.language.

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

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

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

20. The Cathedrals of MexicoThe Cathedrals of Mexico

21. Mexican IndependenceMexican Independence
 In 1810,In 1810, Miguel HildalgoMiguel Hildalgo rebelled againstrebelled against
Spain. He was captured and executed inSpain. He was captured and executed in
18111811
 In 1813, José Morelos declaredIn 1813, José Morelos declared
independence and formed aindependence and formed a republicrepublic, or a, or a
government of elected officialsgovernment of elected officials
 Mexicans won their independence fromMexicans won their independence from
Spain inSpain in 18211821, under the leadership of, under the leadership of
Colonel Augustín de Iturbide.Colonel Augustín de Iturbide.
 His reign was cut short when GeneralHis reign was cut short when General
Santa Anna rebelled against him.Santa Anna rebelled against him.
 He wasHe was exiledexiled, or forced to leave the, or forced to leave the
country.country.
 In 1824 Mexicans set up a republic withIn 1824 Mexicans set up a republic with
General Antonio Lopez deGeneral Antonio Lopez de Santa AnnaSanta Anna asas
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 declareddeclared
itself independent fromitself independent from
Mexico.Mexico.
 ““Remember theRemember the AlamoAlamo””!!
 In 1845, Texas joined theIn 1845, Texas joined the
United States throughUnited States through
annexationannexation, or adding, or adding
territoryterritory
 In 1846, the U.S. went toIn 1846, the U.S. went to
war with Mexico overwar with Mexico over
border disputes aboutborder disputes about
TexasTexas’s southern’s southern
boundary.boundary.

23. The U.S.-Mexican WarThe U.S.-Mexican War
 By 1848, American soldiersBy 1848, American soldiers
occupiedoccupied Mexico City.Mexico City.
 Eventually the Treaty ofEventually the Treaty of
Guadalupe-HidalgoGuadalupe-Hidalgo gavegave
the U.S. the territories ofthe U.S. the territories of
California, Utah, Nevada,California, Utah, Nevada,
and the Rio Grande as theand the Rio Grande as the
southern boundary forsouthern boundary for
TexasTexas
 Treaty of G-H, Punk Rock VersionTreaty of G-H, Punk Rock Version
(1:38)(1:38)
 In Mexico, many peopleIn 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 firstIn 1857, Benito Juárez, the first
Native AmericanNative American president ofpresident of
Mexico, promoted social equalityMexico, promoted social equality
 He was opposed by the militaryHe was opposed by the military
and religious leadersand religious leaders
 He spent his life fighting forHe spent his life fighting for
democracy, and also expellingdemocracy, and also expelling
FranceFrance from Mexico when theyfrom Mexico when they
took over in 1864.took over in 1864.
 He is remembered as a greatHe is remembered as a great
leader every year on Benitoleader every year on Benito
Juárez day, the third Monday ofJuárez day, the third Monday of
each March.each March.

25. The Mexican RevolutionThe Mexican Revolution
 In 1910In 1910 Emiliano ZapataEmiliano Zapata andand
Pancho VillaPancho Villa led a revolutionled a revolution
with the goals of giving thewith the goals of giving the
poorpoor “the lands, woods, and“the lands, woods, and
water that the landlords orwater 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 largedown and seized many large
haciendas from the richhaciendas from the rich
 One of their goals wasOne of their goals was landland
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?