1. Mrs. Minks World geography & cultures
Mexico
Mrs. Minks
World geography & cultures

2. Vocabulary Indigenous Mestizo Urbanization Megacities Glyphs Viceroys
Syncretism

3. Population Patterns Native American ancestors first to settle region
For this reason, Native Americans today are known as indigenous people.

4. The People First inhabitants migrated from Asia 40 – 60,000 years ago
They were isolated from each other
Evolved into their own cultural groups
Developed highly organized civilizations
Thrived in different areas
Maya in the Yucatan
Aztecs in the southern Mexican Plateau
European settlers arrived
Blended with Native Americans
New ethnic group called mestizo

5. Density & Distribution
Population: About 110 million
World’s most populous Spanish-speaking country
Pop. Density = 146 people per square mile; in Mexico City = 33,000 per square mile!
Migration has shaped population
Desire for job opportunities drives external migration
Internal rural to urban migration has changed pop. Distribution
77% of pop. now in cities
One-way internal migration results in ongoing, rapid urbanization

6. Urban Areas
Growing cities have absorbed surrounding cities and suburbs creating megacities, cities with more than 10 million people
Largest megacity in the region is Mexico City w/nearly 20 million

7. Native American Empires
The Maya
Dominated southern Mexico and northern Central America from A.D. 250 – 900.
Established many cities, built terraces, courts, and temples.
Priests and nobles ruled cities
Economy based on agriculture and trade
Skilled in mathematics
Developed accurate calendars
Used astronomical observations to predict solar eclipses
Made glyphs, picture writings carved in stone, to honor gods and record history
Mysteriously abandoned their cities.
More than 40 Maya cities have been uncovered
Descendants still live in villages in southern Mexico and Central America
Before European settlement, two empires flourished – the Maya and the Aztec. These civilizations left enduring marks on Mexican history and culture.

8. Native American Empires
The Aztecs
Arose in central Mexico in A.D. 1300s.
Capital called Tenochtitlan, today is Mexico City
Highly structured class system headed by emperor and military officials
High-ranking priests performed rituals
At bottom of society were farmers, laborers, and soldiers

9. An Independent Nation
Aztecs were still expanding when Spanish explorers landed on Yucatan Peninsula in 1519
Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes defeated the Aztec in 1521 and claimed Mexico for Spain
Next 300 yrs. Mexico was part of Spain, governed by royally appointed officials called viceroys
By late 1700s resentment against European rule spread
A priest named Father Miguel Hidalgo led Mexico’s independence movement in 1810
After long struggle, Mexico became independent in 1821

10. An Independent Nation New constitution in 1917
Federal republic with three branches – executive, legislative, and judicial
President elected to single six-year term
Struggles for additional reforms and political power continue
Native Americans, farmers, and workers continue to pressure the govt. for more inclusion

11. Language and Religion Official language: Spanish
Spoken by more than 90% of pop.
More than 50 indigenous languages spoken by some
Nearly 90% of pop. is Roman Catholic
Some blending of Maya beliefs and Roman Catholic beliefs called syncretism

12. Education and Health Care
Most public schools are in rural areas but do not have funding or qualified teachers
Govt. promotion of adult literacy and funding for more schools has helped Mex. make gains
As employment and education improve, health problems decrease
Federal govt. subsidizes health care making it available to all citizens
Poor quality of public medicine causes people to seek treatment in other countries

13. The Arts
Influences of indigenous cultures and Spanish colonial period are evident in arts
Early Native American architecture includes Maya pyramids and Aztec temples and palaces
Spanish built churches reflect classic European architectural styles

14. Family Life Highly values the family
Extended family a big part of life
Parents and children often share home with extended family
Compadres, or godparents, chosen by parents to sponsor new baby and watch over upbringing
Society still displays elements of machismo (male supremacy)

15. Sports and Leisure National sport is bullfighting
People love futbol, or soccer
The most popular leisure activity may be celebrating – everything is a fiesta
Friendly gatherings
Special family dinners
Religious feast days
Patriotic events

16. Project Introduction