2.  Mountains dominate Mexico’s physical setting.  Sierra Madre- largest mountain range,  Sierra Occidental extends along the western coast.  Sierra Madre Oriental- runs parallel to the eastern coast, along the Gulf of Mexico.  Between the two is Mexico’s largest region, central plateau.

3.  Between the mountains and ocean are Mexico’s different coastal plains regions.  Peninsula- strip of land that juts out into the Pacific Ocean.

4.  Baja California  Gulf of Baja California  Sierra Madre Oriental  Sierra Madre Occidental  Sierra Madre del Sur  Central Plateau  Bay of Campeche  Yucatan Peninsula  Gulf of Mexico  Gulf of Honduras  Mexico City  Cozumel  Acapulco  Cabo San Lucas  Nuevo Laredo  Monterre

5.  Plaza de las Tres Culturas- Three Cultures (located on the site of an Aztec center that fell to the Spanish)  In the center are the resorted ruins of an Aztec temple pyramid. One side of the square is a church, build by the Spanish, on the another side, twin office buildings of glass and (represents modern Mexico)

6.  Empire to Colony  1400s their capital city of Tenochtitlan was the center of an empire that spread over much of south-central Mexico  Build on an island in a lake

7.  Spanish Conquest  Cortes made their way inland in 1519  Within two years the Conquistadors destroyed the Aztec empire.  Later they conquered the remaining Indian groups in Mexico.  Colony or new Spain

8.  New Spain  Four social classes Peninsulares- born in Spain, high official positions Criollos- (cree OHL yos) people of Spanish ancestry born in the Americas. Mestizos- people of mixed ancestry, ranked third Indians- lowest (provided labor on haciendas)

9.  New Spain  Haciendas- large, Spanish –owned estates of land, usually run as farms or cattle ranches.  Encomienda- landowners were supposed to care for their workers, welfare. Given to the conquistadors as rewards by the Spanish King.

10.  Road to Democracy  Colonial rule lasted into the 1800s  Resentment the Criollos felt for the privileged peninsulares erupted into a rebellion.  Miguel Hidalgo called for a rebellion against Spanish rule.  Cry sparked a war of independence.  1821 Independence was won and Mexico was established.  Was not democratic, country went through a series of political struggles and a civil war.  Military leaders ruled as dictators. People wanted democracy.

11.  Road to Democracy  Economy began to blossom. Railroads were built, ranches expanded and oil reserves were developed. Modernize the country only helped the wealthy.  Gap between the wealthy and poor continued.

12.  The Mexican Revolution  1910 the middle –class and peasants rebelled.  Stood up to the Military dictator and landlords who together controlled the country.  Fighting ended in 1920 Mexico had a new president and a new constitution. New government promised “land, bread and justice for all.”  PRI Institutional Revolutionary Party is controls the congress and Presidency.

13.  Mexico Today  Land redistribution- government program of dividing large estates among landless peasants.  Land was split and given to peasants, still used today  Government awarded most of the reclaimed land in the form of ejidos – farmland owned collectively by members of a rural community.  Many of these farmers practice subsistence farming  Subsistence farming- grow only enough corps to feed their families and meet their needs.

14.  Mexico Today  One third of Mexican farms are huge commercial farms owned by individuals or farming companies.  Latifundios- huge commercial farms  Cash crops- farm crops grown for sale and profit, such as corn, sugar cane, coffee, or fruit.  Migrant workers- peasants who travel to where extra farm workers are needed.

15.  Mexico's Economy  Major industries, petroleum extraction and tourism  Tourism in many of the coastal cities began to boom in the 50’s  Mexico City heavily polluted because of the manufacturing companies.  The pollution is trapped because of the Mountains.  Maquiladoras- factories assemble products for the consumers in the United States. ( accused of pollution and not healthy environment and working conditions)  Found along the border of the US and Mexico.