1. Timeline: A Brief History of Mexico

2. Aztec Society
1345 the Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtitlan in the middle of Lake Texcoco.
A vision of an eagle perched on a cactus eating a serpent guided them to this spot.
The city was impressive with stone bridges, temples, pyramids, places and a huge market place.
They were a warlike people who had captured most of southern Mexico.
The Aztecs build canals that carried thousands of people through the city daily!

3. 1521 Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs
Hernan Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan in 1519 and within 2 years he conquered the powerful Aztec empire.
The Aztec emperor believed Cortes was Quetzalcoatl, a legendary god-king.
Cortes was able to defeat the Aztecs for several reasons: allies with the Aztec’s enemies, smallpox, and laying siege on the city.
Horses, metal, armor, muskets and cannons gave the Spaniards technological advantages against the Aztec.

4. Creation of the Mestizo
The conquering of the Aztecs changed their population forever.
Decimated by disease
Mixture of the Spanish and Indian races became known as the mestizo, which form the vast majority of the Mexican population today.

5. 1500 to 1800’s: Spanish Treatment of Indians
300 years of mistreatment of the indigenous population by the colonizing Spanish.
Spanish practices were cruel and barbarous.
The Catholic church considered them heathens and believed God wanted them to convert the Indians.
The Spanish king gave encomiendas (land grants) to Spaniards who forced the Indians to labor on them.

6. 1810-1821: Mexican Independence
Father Miguel Hidalgo led the revolt against the Spanish rulers of Mexico.
Mexico, at this time had a ranking of their population based on skin color and heritage.
September 16, 1820 Father Hidalgo declared Mexico’s independence from Spain. They finally gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Students will draw the pyramid of Mexican society for this slide

7. Diego Rivera
Painted large scale paintings (murals) on building walls to celebrate Mexico’s history.
Mexico wanted to appreciate their heritage before the Spanish came by remembering the contributions of the indigenous population.
Dia de la Raza celebrates the contributions that all peoples have made to Mexican culture.