1. Chapter 10 A Blending of Cultures

2. Mexico Colonialism and Independence Present-day Mexico was occupied by several native peoples. These people included the Toltecs, Maya, and the Aztecs. Teotihuacan was an early city-state.

3. Colonialism and Independence 1519, Hernan(do) Cortes landed on the east coast of Mexico. He marched his army to Tenochtitlan and met Montezuma. By 1527, he had conquered the Aztecs.

4. Colony and Country For centuries, Mexico was under Spanish rule. In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Even free of Spain, Mexico’s land was unequally divided.

5. Colony and Country In the mid-19 th century, Benito Juarez led a reform movement and became president Juarez was succeeded by the dishonest Diaz. Diaz’s rule brought about Mexican civil war A New constitution was written in 1917.

6. One Party Rule 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) arose and introduced democracy. 1997, two parties formed to oppose the PRI 2000, Vicente Fox, National Action Party became president. This ended 71 years of PRI rule.

7. Meeting Cultures The Aztecs and the Spanish –The Aztec Empire arose in the Valley of Mexico. –They arrived there around A.D. 1200. –They built their capital, Tenochtitlan, in the middle of Lake Texcoco. –The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice.

8. The Aztecs and the Spanish Cortez conquered the Aztecs and built Mexico City on top of Tenochtitlan. The name Mexico comes from an older name for the Aztecs called Mexica. The Spanish and Aztec cultures began to intermingle and became known as mestizos.

9. Mexican Painters Mexican Art is known for its muralists. Ex: Jose Orozco, Diego Rivera, Juan O’Gorman. Frida Kahlo is known for her self portraits. These painters blended European and Native American styles.

12. Architecture Aztec buildings were based on pyramids and other basic geometric shapes. The Spanish built missions and later cathedrals in a more European influenced architecture.

13. Economics Two Problems Mexico Struggles with: 1. Closing the gap between rich & poor. 2. Attempt to develop modern industry. Mexico has traditionally been an agricultural society.

14. Oil and Manufacture Oil reserves are found off the Gulf Coast. Manufacturing is the most important industry. Maquiladores – Factories that assemble imported parts and then export the assembled product.

15. Mexico Today Emigration has greatly impacted family life in Mexico. Brain Drain – skilled labor going to other countries to find work and leaving unskilled labor in Mexico.

16. Mayan Influence The Maya inhabited the Yucatan, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Each city was ruled by a god-king. Pyramids of Tikal were among the tallest structures in the Americas until the 20 th Century.

17. Spanish in Central America 1823, Central America declared itself independent from Mexico. Formed the United Provinces of Central America. By 1830, this confederation had split into the countries of today.

18. Caribbean Influences 1492, Columbus lands in Hispanola. He called the natives Indians, however they were really the Taino. Taino died from European and African disease. Spanish replaced them with African slaves.

19. Caribbean Independence First independence movement was a slave revolt on Haiti. Toussant L’Ouverture led this revolt in the 1790’s. 1804 Haiti was free from France. Cuba gained independence in 1898, became self-governing in 1902.

20. Culture Combination of Native American and Spanish. Predominantly Roman Catholic. The Caribbean shares cultures with many other European countries.

21. Economics Sugar Cane is among the largest exports from the Caribbean. Panama Canal is the major trade center in the region. Informal Economy – Finding ways to make money outside of official channels.

22. Music Calypso & Reggae come from this region.