Mexico’sHistory

I. Native American Civilizations

A. Native Americans came to Mexico thousands of years ago.

B. These people built a series of brilliant, highly advanced civilizations.

C. The Olmecs built the first civilization in the Americas, around 1200 B.C.

I. Native American Civilizations

D. It lasted longer (800 years) than any other Native American civilization.

E. The people called the Maya lived on the Yucatan Peninsula.

F. They built huge stone temples in the shape of pyramids with steps.

I. Native American Civilizations

• The Maya developed hieroglyphics, a form of writing that uses signs and symbols.

• Artists decorated temples and tombs with elaborate murals, or wall paintings.

• Around A.D. 1200, a people called the Mexica moved into central Mexico from the north.

I. Native American Civilizations

• The Spanish later called these people Aztec.

• The Aztec built their capital at Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City).

• Many of their traditions survive today in Mexico, including food, crafts, and language.

Today Mexico City stands on the site of the ancient Aztec capital of…

A. Texcoco.B. Tenochtitlan.C. Quetzlcoatl.D. Kukulcan.

II. Spanish Mexico

• In the early 1500s, Spain conquered Mexico and made it a colony, or an overseas territory.

• The Spanish wanted Mexico’s gold and silver.

• Many Spanish people came to Mexico to live.

II. Spanish Mexico

• Some of the early settlers raised cattle on large ranches called haciendas.

• During this time, thousands of Native Americans died from mistreatment and disease.

• Spanish priests tried to improve the lives of Native Americans.

II. Spanish Mexico

• As a result, many Native Americans accepted their religion.

• Today most Mexicans are Catholic.

Mexico was a colony of what European country?

A. EnglandB. PortugalC. FranceD. Spain

III. Independence and Revolution

• Mexicans won their independence from Spain in 1821.

• In 1824 they set up a republic with an elected president.

• They lost Texas and California to the United States.

III. Independence and Revolution

• In 1910 Emiliano Zapata led a revolution with the stated goals of giving the poor “the lands, woods, and water that the landlords or bosses have taken from us.”

• Zapata’s forces swooped down and seized many large haciendas.

III. Independence and Revolution

• They divided the land among the poor.

• Francisco “Pancho” Villa tried to help the poor in the northwest.

What year did the Mexican Revolution begin?

A. 1910B. 1867C. 1824D. 1821