1. C HAPTER 6 Mexico

2. M EXICO ’ S L AND AND E CONOMY Mexico is part of a LAND BRIDGE – This is a strip of land that connects two larger pieces of land. What two continents does this land bridge connect? ____________________ & ________________________ What other countries lie within this land bridge?

3. M EXICO ’ S L AND AND E CONOMY Is Mexico part of North America, or South America? Both!!!!!! It is part of North America however its culture is more closely tied to South America.

4. L ANDSCAPE Using geography terms tell me some landforms or places that surround Mexico. West East North South __________ California, which is a long peninsula Between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea there is another peninsula called the ________________ Peninsula.

5. L ANDSCAPE The landscape of Mexico is very rugged. Some would say that if you wanted to compare it to something you should crumple up a piece of paper with deep folds. There are tons of towering mountain ranges, and a huge plateau in central Mexico. tell me some of the mountain ranges that you can find in Mexico.

6. P HYSICAL M EXICO There are three major mountain ranges found in Mexico. These mountain ranges make up the __________ __________________ mountain range also known as the “mother range”. Many of Mexico’s mountain ranges are actually made from __________________. Some of the more active volcanoes in Mexico are Popacatepetl “El Popo” – erupted violently centuries ago, then erupted again in December of 2000.

7. P HYSICAL M EXICO Earthquakes A major earthquake hit Mexico City in 1985 “Ring of Fire” – this is a very active volcano zone that forms the western, eastern, and northern edges of the Pacific Ocean. Mexico is on the border of this ring of fire and therefore experiences a lot of side effects of the volcanoes.

8. P HYSICAL M EXICO Plateau of Mexico Plateau of Mexico lies in the middle of Mexico It is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Northern Plateau is deserts and grassy plains. Middle Plateau is flat valleys where many of the chief cities lie. Southern Plateau rises until it meets the snowcapped mountains of the Sierra Madre de Sur.

9. P HYSICAL M EXICO Coastal Lowlands lowlands lie between the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and the coasts. Pacific Coastal Plains – West – north is desert, further south you go the better soil for ranching and farming. Gulf Coastal Plains – East - good for farming and raising animals

10. CLIMATES OF MEXICO Mexico has an assortment of climate zones. This is due to the fact that the Tropic of ___________ cuts across the center of Mexico at _____________ degrees N Latitude. If you live South of this line then you will experience a warm temperature throughout the year. If you live North of this line you will experience a warm summer and a cooler winter

11. CLIMATES OF MEXICO ALTITUDE Altitude – height above sea level – also affects the climate of Mexico. The _______________ the altitude the cooler the temperature will be. The mountains and plateaus of Mexico give it three altitude Zones

12. CLIMATES OF MEXICO Altitude Zones (page 193 in book ) Tierra Caliente (“hot land”)– coastal lowland area which are close to sea level they have a HIGH TEMPERATURE. Tierra Templada (“ temperate land”) – moderate clime not too hot, not too cold. Middle elevation Tierra Fria (“cold land”) – becomes very cool in this area because it is the highest elevation

13. CLIMATES OF MEXICO Baja California and Northern Mexico get very little rainfall Most rainfall occurs during the summer months of Mexico and in mid to southern parts. June to October lots of Hurricane season

14. E CONOMICS Mexico’s economy rank in the top 15 most important economies in the world. ii. There are three distinct economic regions NORTH – Farming and Manufacturing Farmers called Vaqueros (cowhands)– developed the tools and techniques used by Americans in herding and ranching animals. Cities are filled with Maquiladoras – factories built to assemble parts made in other countries.

15. E CONOMICS The north is quickly growing but due to this advancement in economy growing environmental concerns are also becoming an issue. CENTRAL – More than ½ of Mexico’s population lives here. Area has a great climate and soil which makes for a comfortable living space.

16. E CONOMICS SOUTH – Poorest of all economic regions due to its poor soil and towering mountains. Subsistence Farming – small plots where farmers grow enough food to feed themselves is common here. However in the coastal lowlands of this area there are plantations – large farms where owners grow sugarcane and bananas.

17. E CONOMICS Mexico today relies less on farming and more on manufacturing this makes it a __________________ economy.

18. OLMECS Olmecs – Built the first civilization in the Americas around 1200 B.C. Olmecs carved huge statues, and they also carved jewelry out of Jade. All of the objects that they carved were created from obsidian – a hard black glass created by volcanoes. (they had no metals) Olmecs were also the first to grow maize

19. M AYANS Mayans – lived in the Yucatan Peninsula (rain forests) from A.D.250 to A.D. 900. Very religious people in order to keep their religious schedule they studied the heavens and developed our ______________________. They built huge stone temples Developed _________________ a form of writing that uses signs and symbols Complex number system Drew _______________ - wall paintings on the walls of tombs and temples.

20. A ZTECS Lived in central Mexico around A.D.1200. Capital was Tenochtitlan which is where Mexico City is found today. Left many traditions in Mexico which are still alive today. Flag (eagle with a snake on its beak) honor the Aztecs.

21. S PANISH M EXICO 1519 Cortez Spanish army leader led his men into Tenochtitlan and took over making Mexico a Spanish Colony. ii.Many Spanish came over and raised cattle on their ___________________ large ranches. iii.Roman Catholic became the religion of choice

22. I NDEPENDENCE AND R EVOLUTION 1810 Catholic priest Hidalgo led a revolution against the Spanish starting the rebellions against the Spanish in Mexico. 1821 Mexico wins its independence from Spain. 1824 set up a Republic with an elected president. Shortly after fight Americans for Texas and lose

23. M EXICO ’ S C ITIES AND V ILLAGES Cities – PLAZAS- public squares Around the plazas are important buildings such as churches and government centers. Many homes in rural Mexico are made of ADOBE- sun dried clay bricks.

24. F OOD AND C ELEBRATIONS Spicy foods – corn, beef, chicken, cheese, beans, chocolate Fiestas – celebrations Mariachi – bands that play horns, violins, guitars play at the fiestas. Cinco de Mayo (May 5 th ) celebration for the day in 1862 when Mexicans defeated an invading French army. November 2 nd – The Day of the Dead- gather to honor and remember their dead loved ones.

25. G OVERNMENT Federal Republic – power is divided among national and state governments. President that leads the national government more power in the national governments than in the state governments (United States)