Mexico Lesson 2: Creating a Mexican Culture

Mexixo’s Early Civilizations Complete the Anticipation Guide on the bottom of page 2 in your packet. ONLY COMPLETE THE BEFORE COLUMN

Essential Question: How would you compare and contrast Mexico’s major cultural groups?

Do Now In your notebook, define the following vocabulary words.  Civilization  Innovation  Missionary

civilization A culture that has a complex economic, governing, and social system. More advanced in technology

innovation New ways of doing things.

missionary Religious teachers that came to Mexico to teach the Roman Catholic religion.

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? Turn to page 177. (Section on DVD) Read along with the narrator as he reads about the Olmec Civilization. Assignment: Create an outline of the Olmec Civilization

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? I. ____________ Civilization A. ____________ 1. First settled along the coast of the ____________ of Mexico 2. ____________ lived along the coastal rivers in villages in small houses made of reeds and straw B. ____________ Society 1. Fished in the rivers and ____________ land 2. ____________ flooding watered crops and made the ____________ rich

C.Religion a. 3.

D.Innovation E. Spreading of Culture

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? A. Settlement 1. First settled along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico B.C. lived along the coastal rivers in villages in small houses made of reeds and straw B. Farming Society 1. Fished in the rivers and farmed land 2. seasonal flooding watered crops and made the soil rich I. Olmec Civilization

C. Religion 1. based on the forces of nature that affected crops, artwork and carvings were used for religious purposes. 2. worshipped many different gods a. most important god, Jaguar, the rain god. 3. Villages became centers of religion and great temples were made of huge stones for worship. Check your work from yesterday.

D. Innovation 1. created a calendar 2. used a form of picture writing 3. carvings and artwork 4. religious centers 5. architecture 6. technology E.Spreading of Culture 1. interacted with others through trade 2. Maya and Aztec culture added to the Olmec innovations. 3. referred to mother civilization

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? Read about the Maya on page 178. Create an outline of the most important information.

II. The Maya A. Settlement and Farming B. Tikal was the largest Mayan City

C. Innovations D. History

II. The Maya A. Settlement and Farming 1. farming culture in the rainforest of what are now Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and southern Mexico BC started to clear the forest to farm more land and build cities. 3. Built more than 100 cities B. Tikal was the largest Mayan City 1. population 100, 000 people 2. located on the Yucatan Peninsula in what is now Guatemala 3. six large temples, shaped like a pyramid Jaguar carved on top.

C. Innovations 1. created a 365 day calendar 2. created a number system including zero 3. used picture writing D. History 1. lasted more than 600 years 2. by 900 AD some Mayan cities were left empty reclaimed by the surrounding rain forest 3. Mayan culture has contributed to the later civilization of Mexico

Read Page 179- The Aztecs Complete the Outline on the Aztecs in your Lesson Packet

III. The ____________ A. ____________ 1. AD Settled in the ___________of ____________ 3. well organized cities B. ____________ 1. ____________ Aztec city 2. population of ____________ by Located in ___________and southern Mexico C. Culture 1. Included 5 ____________ people 2. daily trips to the ____________ to trade 3. ____________ language 4. foods- ____________

III. The Aztecs A. Settlement 1. AD Settled in the Valley of Mexico 3. well organized cities B. Tenochtitlan (Present day Mexico City) 1. largest Aztec city 2. population of 300,000 by Located in central and southern Mexico C. Culture 1. Included 5 million people 2. daily trips to the market to trade 3. Nahuatl language 4. foods- tortillas