Worldviews in Contact

Worldviews in ContactNew religionNew economyCreating the colonyThe Independence MovementMexico today

CHANGES/CHALLENGES TO AZTEC WORLDVIEWLoss of the warSpanish conquest forced Aztecs to change their societyDiseaseSmallpox epidemic forces society to change because of loss of workersLoss of religionThe loss of the war and onset of smallpox made the Aztecs question their religionA NEW RELIGIONAztecs felt their gods had abandoned them during the siege of TenochtitlanCortex requested religious persons of goodly life and character.After three years , priests of the Franciscan order came off a Spanish ship at VeracruzFranciscan priests vowed to live in the poorest conditions, never to get married, and always to obey their superiors without questionCortes kissed their robes which amazed the Aztecs as they had never seen Cortes treat anyone with such respect

A NEW RELIGIONFranciscans converted many surviving Aztecs to CatholicismThe Franciscans destroyed the Aztec temples and codicesJust as some Muslims and Jews had practiced their faith in secret in Christian Spain, some Aztecs continued some of their religious practices after conversionCatholic priests and missionaries take over the education of the childrenInstruction is based on Catholicism

NEW ECONOMY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQRy3n8LWFk&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Aztec society had been based on war, farming, trading and tribute to the godsSpanish introduced the encomienda systemSimilar to the systems used in other areas under Spanish ControlWith each piece of land the Spanish were entitled to a certain number of Aztec workersThe landowners were supposed to treat them well and educate them in the Christian religion, but most did not

NEW ECONOMYEconomy changed to a ladder system with the Spanish at the top and the Aztecs at the bottom

NEW SOCIAL STRUCTURECORTES SOLUTIONHad failed to deliver on the riches he had promised to his loyal followersHe put in place two attempts to solve this problemEncomienda systemGave the settlers Aztec slaves and landCortes passed the marriage lawEvery Spaniard had to bring his wife from Spain or marry an Indigenous womanFailure to marry within six months meant the loss of their encomienda

CORTES SOLUTIONCortes had shifted focus from short-term goals, finding gold and returning to Spain to the long term goal of colonizing SpainThe children that resulted from the unions of the Spanish and Aztecs were known as the MestizoToday Mestizos are the largest portion of the Spanish populationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlCpEFdpXEA

MEXICAN POPULATION BY ETHNIC ORIGIN 2006THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTKing Carlos of Spain took the governorship of New Spain from CortesAppointed Don Antonio de MendozaBecame the Viceroy (royal representative in New Spain)Widely believed King Carlos feared that Cortes would declare himself king of the colony and separate from Spain

THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT Mendoza deliberately limited Cortezs power and kept him away from Mexico CityThe purpose of appointing the viceroy was to ensure the colony was under the direct control of the Spanish crownKings purpose of the colony was to keep the flow of gold, silver and farm products going to Spain to pay for European wars

DISCONTENT IN NEW SPAINThe people of New Spain, could soon see what was in the interests of the King was not necessarily good for themWhile wealth was flowing back to Spain, shortages of roads, schools, housing were widespread in New SpainDisconnect arose from every class of society

TOWARDS INDEPENDENCEThe indigenous peoples were the descendants of the Aztecs Many Mestizos grew up in great poverty and felt Spain was exploiting Mexico and giving nothing in returnJose Maria Morelas was the Mestizo leader of the Mexican independence movement in the early 19th centuryHis army of indigenous people was better prepared than the Spanish forces oftenThe Spanish eventually captured and executed MoralesToday he is a national hero in Mexicohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XGZ9-jGqZM& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIWPlbs_YXs&feature=relmfu&

TOWARDS INDEPENDENCEThe descendants of Spanish settlers in Mexico were called CreolesThey were the most privileged and wealthy class in MexicoTired of increasing taxes and inspired by the French and US revolutions, they came to support the independence movementDiscontent was present across society, so in 1821 Mexico became independent from Spainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFNHayrnav8&

MEXICO TODAYan estimated population of over 112 million, it is the eleventh most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country. Mexico is a federation comprising thirty-one states and a Federal District, the capital city.Mexico has one of the world's largest economies, and is considered both a regional power and middle power. In addition, Mexico was the first Latin American member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD in 1994

MEXICO TODAYMexico has the 13th largest nominal GDP and the 11th largest by purchasing power parity. GDP annual average growth for the period of 19952002 was 5.1%.Foreign debt decreased to less than 20% of GDP.From 2000 to 2004, the population in poverty has decreased from 24.2% to 17.6% in the general population and from 42% to 27.9% in rural areas.

MEXICO TODAYAccording to a 2008 UN report the average income in a typical urbanized area of Mexico was $26,654, a rate higher than advanced nations like South Korea or Taiwanthe average income in rural areas just miles away was only $8,403, a rate comparable to developing countries such as Russia or TurkeyIn 2006, trade with the United States and Canada accounted for almost 50% of its exports and 45% of its imports.Mexico is the largest North American auto-producing nation, recently surpassing Canada and the U.S.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJl-w3ECwGY&

HOT BUTTON ISSUE: NAFTA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0r2Owo5emA&feature=related&

19CHAPTER 11WORLDVIEWS IN CONFLICTMEXICO TODAYMexico is the twenty-third highest tourism spender in the world, and the highest in Latin America.The vast majority of tourists come to Mexico from the United States and Canada. Many other visitors come from Europe and Asia. A small number of tourists also come from other Latin American countries.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SPz_Jpf3aA& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcEse_9US8c&feature=relmfu&

MEXICO TODAYMexico represents the largest source of immigration to the United States. About 9% of the population born in Mexico is now living in the United States.28.3 million Americans listed their ancestry as Mexican as of 2006Mexico is home to the largest number of U.S. citizens abroad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-cWmzLAqbE&

HOT BUTTON ISSUE : MEXICAN IMMIGRATION