1. MEXICO
MEXICO

2. Culture
Masculine
Spainards brought Roman Catholicism to the region but Mexico has no official religion.
Very artisitic
Frida Kahlo
Diego Riviera

3. Art and Culture

4. Culture Our Lady of Guadelupe Food is very important Traditional
Tamales
Salsa
Tacos
Tortillas
NOT CHIPS!

5. Important staples Mole Chicken Mole Enchiladas Stuffed Poblano Chiles
Pico de Gallo

6. Climate Southern portion is colder (lighter blue)
Northern portion is hotter (orange and yellow)
Seems backwards but is because of the geography.

7. Geography Dark red are mountains and plateaus.
Orange and yellow are more arid and rocky portions.
Green and some yellow are forests and coastal areas.

8. History of Mexico Mayans – 250-900 AD Aztecs – 1325-1521 AD
Arrival of Spanish Conquistadors in 1581
1st expedition in 1517 to Yucatan Penensula, defeated.
2nd expedition in 1518 to Tabasco region and Aztec Empire.
3rd expedition during 1518, purpose was to take over Aztec Empire and bring Mexico under Spanish Rule

9. Colonial Period 1521-1810 Under Spanish Rule
Native Mexicans could not hold offices
Even if of Spanish descendants
Education was discouraged
Only two ports open – did not want to compete with Spain’s foreign trade
Same types of crops would grow well in Mexico also (Olives and grapes)

10. Mexican Independence
1807 Nepoleon I invaded Spain and made his brother King.
September 16, 1810
Father Miguel Hidalgo held a sermon about Mexican Independence.
“Grito De Dolores”
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna ( )
Benito Juarez ( 1855 – late 1860’s)

11. Holidays and Fesitvals
January 8- Three Kings Day
We call it Epiphany
Day that wise men got to Jesus in Bethlehem.
May 5 -Cinco de Mayo
National holiday celebrating the defeat of the French at Puebla in 1862.
Three Kings Day bread
Small porcelain figurine baked inside.

12. Holidays and Festivals
September 16 – “Grito de Delores”
Independence day
Not the day they won independence but the day that they began the fight for it.
Like our signing of The Declaration of Independence.
Revolutionary war happened after

13. Holidays and Festivals
November 1 and 2- Dias de los Muertos
Similar to our memorial day
1 is for Saints and Children
2 is for adults
Camp out at cemeteries and make “offrendas” at home.

14. Holidays and Festivals
December All of Mexico prepares for Christmas with nine days of traditional festivities.
The Posada, a re-enactment of the Holy Family's search for shelter in Bethlehem, is a joyous religious and social event, ending with a piñata party.

15. Teens
Many work with parents to learn their trades or skills and take over family business
Do not have jobs during school year
Enjoy group activities
Most do not go past high school
Especially girls

16. Teens Quinceanera Can wear high heals and make up now
15th birthday for girls
Becomes a woman
May get married

17. Points of interest
The red poinsettia originated in Mexico and is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico.
Mexican children do not get presents on Christmas day…they get them on January 8.
One unusual Mayan weapon was a “hornet bomb,” which was an actual hornet’s nest thrown at enemies during battle

18. Interesting Facs
The descendants of the Aztecs speak a form of the Aztec language called Nahuatl. Many of its words, particularly for types of food, passed into English...such as tomatoes (tomatl), chocolate (chocolatl), and avocados (ahuacatl)
When Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortés arrived in 1519, the Aztecs believed he was their returning god, Quetzalcoatl, and offered him the drink of the gods: hot chocolate.f

19. Government Federal Presidential Representative Democratic Republic
Federales for short
Congressional and multi-party system similar to the U.S.
Executive, Legislative, etc.
National Action Party, Party of the Democratic Revolution, Institutional Revolutionary Party
Elections are usually held on the first Sunday of July.