Mexicos History

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Mexicos History
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Native American Civilizations

• The Olmecs built the first civilization in the
  Americas around 1200 B.C. It lasted longer (800
  years) than any other Native American
  civilization.

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Olmecs

• The Olmecs were known to carve large stone
  statues and made jewelry out of jade. They carved
  these items with obsidian, a hard, black glass
  created by volcanoes. The Olmecs were the first
  to grow maize, or corn.

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The Mayans

• The people called the Maya lived on the Yucatan
  Peninsula and into Central America. They built
  urban centers such as Chichen Itza and UxMal.
• They built huge stone temples in the shape of
  pyramids with steps.

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Mayans (cont)

• The Maya developed hieroglyphics, a form of
  writing that uses signs and symbols.
• Artists decorated temples and tombs with
  elaborate murals, or wall paintings.

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More Mayan Accomplishments

• Developed the concept of zero.
• Astronomers developed a calendar which controlled
  the behaviors of people and all religious
  ceremonies. The Mayans were obsessed with time!!
• The picture is of an old Mayan observatory!

      
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Religious Ceremonies of the Mayans

• Religious ceremonies involved dancing,
  competition, dramatic performances, prayer and
  sacrifice.
• Sometimes blood drippings (blood-letting) would
  suffice the Gods, but sometimes a human sacrifice
  would be needed.
• Many of the Gods had reptilian characteristics.
• The Mayans believed that the world was created
  five times and destroyed four times!

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Mayans (cont)

• No one is sure why the Maya civilization
  declined, but possibilities include warfare,
  disease, and over farming.

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The Aztecs

• Around A.D. 1200, a people called the Mexica
  moved into central Mexico from the north.
• The Spanish later called these people the Aztecs.
• (PictureNiches Pyramid)

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Aztecs (cont)

• The Aztecs built their capital, Tenochtitlan
  (present-day Mexico City). Many of their
  traditions survive today in Mexico, including
  food, crafts, and language.
• (Picture The Wall of Skulls at Tenochtitlan.
  These are real human skulls!)

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The Great City of Tenochtitlan

• Under the rule of Itzacoatl, Tenochtitlan was
  built in the middle of a lake . There they built
  temples, roads, a causeway to the mainland,
  established a government and a true urban center.
• They also created an aqueduct system to bring
  water into the city!
• The bulk of their economy was based on trade of
  luxury and necessary items.

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The Fall of the Aztecs

• The city was destroyed on August 13, 1521 by the
  Spanish. Most of the nobility was killed and the
  Aztec empire soon collapsed.
• Hernan Cortes, a Spanish Conquistador, killed
  6,000 Aztecs with only 500 men. How was this
  possible?
• Cortes also gained help from other Natives who
  despised the Aztecs. He learned about the Aztecs
  from a native woman who served as an interpreter
  and described the Aztec kingdom to Cortes.
• Aztecs would not stop fighting and eventually
  King Montezuma was killed and the Aztecs were
  easily defeated.

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What remains of the Aztecs?

• Even though many remains have been discovered
  there are still remains of Tenochtitlan that lay
  below Mexico City.
• http//www.anthroarcheart.org/tenochti.htm

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Aztec Social Classes

• There were two social classes the macehuallas
  the commoners and the pilli the nobility.
• One could move up in a social class from having
  great skill or showing bravery.
• All males went to school and only men held
  government positions.
• Women were considered subordinate of men, could
  not hold government positions, did not go to
  school, and had to behave with high morale at
  all times.

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Aztec Law

• Aztec Law was simple, but HARSH!
• Most crimes were punishable by death or
  mutilation.
• Example If you were found guilty of slander, you
  would have one of your lips chopped off!.
• Slavery was most common among people captured in
  war, those who committed a crime (like theft),
  voluntary basis, or by being sold by ones parent.

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Aztec Religion

• The Aztecs greatly practiced human sacrifice
  believing that the braver the captive, the more
  nourishing the sacrifice to the Gods. They
  believed that divine forces (creation and
  destruction) were always having conflict and that
  a human sacrifice would keep them balanced.
• King Moctezuma II sacrificed as many as 20,000
  people. During this time it was popular to go to
  war just so you were able to capture people for
  human sacrifices.

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The Aztec Calendar

• The Aztecs had two main calendars the ritual
  year (260 days) and the solar year (365 days).
• Every 52 years they believed the world was going
  to end because the calendars would synchronize.

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Aztec Writing

• Unlike Mayan writings, the Aztec writings are
  much easier to read and documents have been
  better preserved. The Aztecs used writing for
  many purposes, such as calculation, calendars,
  diaries, history, and periodicals
• Aztec writings were to be told and not really
  to be read since the writing consisted of
  pictographs.

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Spanish Mexico

• In the early 1500s, Spain conquered Mexico and
  made it a colony, or an overseas territory.
• Early Spanish settlers raised cattle on large
  ranches called haciendas. Others started gold
  and silver mines. During this time, thousands of
  Native Americans died from mistreatment and
  disease.

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Religion

• Spanish priests came to Mexico to work with the
  Native Americans.
• Today about 90 percent of Mexicans are Roman
  Catholic.

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Independence and Revolution

• Miguel Hidalgo lead the people of Mexico to war
  against Spain. Mexicans won independence from
  Spain in 1821. In 1824 they set up a republic
  with an elected president.
• For many decades, rich families, army officers,
  and Catholic Church leaders held most of the
  power and wealth.

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Emiliano Zapata

• In 1910 Emiliano Zapata led a revolution with the
  stated goals of giving the poor the lands,
  woods, and water that the landlords or bosses
  have taken from us.
• Zapatas forces swooped down and seized many
  large haciendas. They divided the land amongst
  the poor.

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The End