Aztecs called themselves Mexica Tenochtitlan Marketplace by Diego Rivera Mountains and lake provide natural defense of city 1345 Aztecs built Tenochtitlan at Lake Texcoco Snake on cloth represents Quetzalcoatl- goddess of creation The city was an important religious center filled with pyramids topped with temples What raw materials would be used to create mats? Petates, or mats, were woven out of reed Importance of family as mother carries child in rebozo Slave laborer is identified by simple loin cloth

Small pox decimated Aztecs Conquest by Jose Orozco Spanish Conquest Hernan Cortes 1519 Aztecs surrender 1521 Winged angel shows partnership of Church and Cortes Fire in background represents widespread destruction of Spanish soldiers and smallpox. Cortes is carrying an iron sword – resting on dismembered bodies of Aztec victim Aztecs had no metal to match iron’s strength What is this? Cortes is a machine… symbolic of European technology Small pox decimated Aztecs

Brutal labor of gold mines Colonial Domination by Diego Rivera Cross, Spanish flag and sword represent colonization Yoked to plow Cuauhtemoc, last Aztec emperor, bowing to conquistadors Huge land grants given to Spanish - encomiendas Conquistadores use branding iron to brand Indian slave Total Indian population fell from 25 million to 1 million by 1700 Rivera attempted to summarize 300 years Spaniards are dressed in armor and wearing European hats Bag of gold Euro faces drawn as animals

Mexican Independence 1810-1821 Fight for Liberty by Jose Orozco Mexican Independence 1810-1821 Father Hidalgo (killed 1811) against Spanish rule Criollos – Spanish descent Color red – death and violence Priest’s collar and cross – role of Church in rebellion Masses of people – popularity of independence movement among Indians and mestizos. Hidalgo and Father Morelos both executed during war by Mexican creoles (Spanish decedents) Creole Agustin Iturbide then lead independence from Spain, but without reforms of masses What do you think a fiery machete represent? Machete is symbol of agriculture and fire is revolt.

Benito Juaraz 1831-1872 and the Fall of the Empire by Jose Orozco Juarez - Zapotec Indian - first to bring legitimate reforms to Mexico Mexican flag – patriotism of middleclass Machetes in hands of peasants Violent colors Juarez leadership came against European intrusion from Spain and France Control of Church 1855 – overthrew dictator Santa Anna, began reforms 1862 – Mexico conquered by France (Napoleon III). Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo = Mexican victory, though French eventually won war. 1867- Juarez conquered Mexico City and executed Maximillian Then continued his reforms until his death in 1872

Repression by Diego Rivera The peasants are being held at gunpoint by government forces Rurales, or government forces, are seated on horseback and are wearing carbines. The man wearing the sombrero and holding the whip is overseeing the workers. These two images symbolize the forms of coercion used to make the peasants work on the haciendas. The sickle is held by a bent over worker. During this time period, peasants lost their lands and were forced to work on large haciendas for little or no wages.

The Trench by Jose Orozco Mexican Revolution By 1910, dissatisfaction of Diaz regime lead to open revolt. “Viva la Revolucion” Red – violent and bloody nature of 10-year long revolution Three soldiers mirroring the Christian Trinity, add religious element to the movement Sharp angles of bodies inject drama The carbines and rifle reinforce the atmosphere of revolution

Land Distribution by Diego Rivera The faces of the rich men show their anger at their land being redistributed. The government bureaucrat is indicating with his outstretched arm the land that is to be given to the campesinos. He points to a blueprint showing land parcels. The campesinos are holding their rifles in nonthreatening positions, signifying an end to the violence of the revolution The legal books indicate the government’s commitment to the redistribution of hacienda land, a commitment made into law by the Constitution of 1917. The campesinos have taken off their sombreros, a sign of the solemn nature of the occasion

Murals are also a form of personal expression as well as historical Murals are also a form of personal expression as well as historical. Mexican American murals are a very popular form of art today.

Create a mural of your own life. Your assignment: Create a mural of your own life. Include significant events, images and pictures that will make it symbolic of your own personal culture and history. Make it colorful and meaningful.