1. Mexico

2. History First people came thousands of years ago – 5,000 BC – cultivated maize Added beans, squash, and chili peppers = population growth (why?) Olmecs – 1,500 BC – Developed: Poltical system Religion System of writing calender

3. History Mayan Civilization Pyramid shaped Temples Recorded their History Excelled at astronomy – Mayan calendar » Used for farming and religious ceremonies Decline around 900AD

4. History

5. Aztecs 1200 – 1521 AD – Settled the Valley of Mexico Tenochtitlan and its chinampas

6. History Aztecs cont’d – Capital was largest city built By Native Americans – Skilled farmers – Excellent aquatic engineers – Strong army that conquered many people Montezuma 1440-1468AD – Built an aqueduct – expanded the empire and trade

7. History – Spanish Rule to Independence Hernan Cortes, 1519AD – Conquistadors and Cortes defeat Aztecs Why? Result? The Church arrives – Wanted to convert natives to Roman Catholicism Results?

8. History Spain’s Empire weakened – Make changes in Mexico to increase trade – Enlightenment sweeps across Europe changing political scene there and in North America – Emperor Napoleon invaded Spain Mexican Revolution (1810-1821) Mexico struggled with new independence – Benito Juarez promised to break up large estates French overthrow him and set up Maximilian, only to be overthrown by Juarez

10. History Porfirio Diaz (1870s-1911) – Tried to enact Juarez’s reforms – Invites foreign countries in for RRs etc. Failed attempts at reforms = poverty for Majority – 1910, Mexican Revolution After failed election and jailing of opponent (who won) – 1917, Mexican Constitution Declared giving land to poor farmers and more worker’s right Venustiano Carranza became prez and promised much but did not deliver Result??