1. A Place of Three Cultures
Mexico
A Place of Three
Cultures

4. What are the three cultures that make up Modern Mexico?
Indian
Spanish
Modern

5. Indian

6. Indian Aztecs built the most powerful empire in Mexico
In the 1400s they controlled most of south central Mexico
Tenochtitlan was their capital
Built on an island in a lake. It was were modern day Mexico City is.
In 1519 the Spanish conquered the Aztecs and left their empire in ruins

7. Tenochtitlan

12. Spanish

13. Spanish Spanish established four social classes in Mexico
Peninsulares – Those born in Spain.
They held high official positions
Criollos – People of Spanish ancestry
Mestizos – People of mixed ancestry
Mixed Spanish and Native American heritage
Indians – Native to Mexico
They were the lowest level of society
Indians worked on haciendas or large Spanish-owned estates
Most of the time they didn’t get much money and lived almost a slaves existence

14. Spanish Mexico became independent in 1821
In 1910 the Mexican Revolution occurred
They got rid of the dictatorship that was running the country
They established a democratic government
They tried to establish the thought of “land, bread and justice for all”

15. Mexico Today

17. Mexico Today
Large estates were purchased and broken up so more people could work the land
They redistributed it to groups that owned the land or Ejidos
Most of these people practice subsistence farming
The rest are large commercial farms or Latifundios or Haciendas

18. Mexico Today Urban Life Upper class – small group
Well educated
Most are descendents of Criollos
Middle class – Skilled workers
This group is growing
Lower class – Very poor
This is the largest group

19. Mexico Today Mexico’s economy Three major industries Maquiladoras
Tourism
Petroleum
Manufacturing
Maquiladoras
Factories that make products for sale in the U.S.
Many of these factories are located near the U.S. Mexican border

20. Mexico Today NAFTA North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement
Trade agreement between U.S., Canada Mexico
Reduces or takes away tariffs on trade

21. Mexico Today Emigration
Many workers go to the U.S. to work and make money
Mexico is quickly urbanizing
Mexico City is the largest city in the world
Mexico City is also one of the dirtiest cities in the world
Mexicans move to the city in search of jobs