1. Mexican Culture
Three native civilizations and the Spanish influenced the culture of Mexico.

2. The Olmecs Earliest or first civilization in Mexico Counting system
Calendar (floods)
Farmed using seasonal flooding
Religion tied to forces of nature (jaguar-rain); temples
Picture writing
Artwork, carving “giant stone heads”

3. of the Olmecs were spread to other civilizations.
Many
innovations
of the Olmecs were spread to other civilizations.

4. The Maya Lived in rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula
Cleared forests to farm (flooding)
365 day calendar
Number system with zero to count crops
More than 100 cities; largest was Tikal
Religious temples
Borrowed many ideas from Olmecs

5. The Aztecs Large empire, over 5 million people Writing system
Calendar and number system (farming)
Tenochtitlan was their largest city (central Mexico, now Mexico City)
Nahuatl was spoken language. Some place names are Nahuatl words (Mexico).
Tlaxcalli, corn pancakes, now tortillas

6. The Spanish
Led by Hernando Cortes, conquered the Aztec empire; Aztecs used as slaves
Colony called New Spain, capital was Mexico City
Official language was Spanish
Roman Catholic became official religion
Spanish and natives married. Their children were called Mestizos