Mexico’s Land and Water forms Land Forms Paracutin – volcano South of United States In North America Baja California – western peninsula Yucatan Peninsula – east Water Forms Pacific Ocean - west Gulf of Mexico - east Caribbean Sea - east Rio Grande River – most polluted in NA Lake Texcoco - Tenochtitlan – Aztec capital ‘floating gardens’ Sierra Madre – 3 El Popo - Popocatepetl Ring of Fire Plateau of Mexico Coastal Lowlands – Pacific Coastal Plain - west Gulf Coastal Plain - east Tropic of Cancer 23 1/2 ‘N Economy of Mexico Northern (mts.) – herding, roping, branding cattle Central – ½ the people of Mexico live here, fertile soil for farming and ranching Southern – poorest, grow sugar cane and bananas Then TODAY GROW – corn, beans, wheat and rice EXPORT – coffee, cotton, vegetables, fruit, livestock, and tobacco FACTORIES – cars, consumer goods and steel DISCOVERIES – Petroleum and natural gas in Gulf of Mexico SERVICE INDUSTRIES - Banking and Tourism NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement – In 1994, free of tariffs or special taxes between countries in NA (US, Mexico and Canada) Date and Timeline December 2000 – El Popo erupts 1500’s - Spaniards conquered Mexico BC 1200 – AD 1500 - Olmec, Mayan, and Aztecs civilizations thrived 1200 BC – Olmecs – 1st civilization 400 BC Olmecs disappeared (died out) AD 250-900 Mayan flourished AD 900 – Maya civilization declined 1200AD – Mexica (Aztec) moved into central Mexico from North 1519 – Spanish Army led my Hernan Cortes – landed on TEN looking for gold 600 Spaniards defeated 6 million – how? 1821 – Mexico gained independence from Spanish (Spain) September 16 – Mexican Independence Day November 2- Day of the Dead 1824 – set up republic of Mexico w/elected president 1862 – Cinco de Mayo, May 5, Mexicans defeated French 1910 – Emiliano Zapato – Mexican peasants revolted ‘robin hood’ Early 1900’s - murals 1994 – NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement – free of tariffs or special taxes 2000 – Vicente Fox elected President of Mexico from a different party (1st) Until the 1990’s Mexican government did not allow foreign factories in Mexico. They do now Cities Mexico City – capital & one of the largest cities in the world Monterrey –industrial – steel and cement – maquiladoras - factories Tijuana – Border US Ciudad Juarez – Border US Guadalajara – Large industrial city Acapulco – resort city, Pacific Ocean side - west Puerto Vallarta - resort city, Pacific Ocean side - west Cancun – resort city, East – Gulf of Mexico side Tenochtitlan – Aztec capital – site of present day Mexico City Famous People of Mexico 1519 – Spanish Army led my Hernan Cortes – landed on TEN looking for gold – How did 600 contain 6 Million? Quetzlcoatl - horse and man one creature 2000 – Vicente Fox elected President of Mexico Religion – Catholic Language - Spanish Emiliano Zapata – Mexican peasants revolted against Catholics and rich – ‘robin hood’ Francisco “Pancho” Villa – helped poor, mostly Indian peasants. Olmec – 1st civilization in Mexico (jade and obsidian) 1st to grow maize (corn) Maya – lived in rain forest of Yucatan Peninsula, temple Kukulcan 365 = 91X4+1, Hieroglyphics and murals Aztec – Tenochtitlan – floating gardens Mexica – Aztecs call themselves, flag honors Aztec by eagle with snake in beak Vaqueros – Mexican cowhands Jose’ Clemente Orozco – mural painter David Alfero Sequileros - mural painter Diego Rivera - mural painter Frida Kahlo –painter and wife of DR revealed inner feelings Carlos Fuentes – writer that reflects value of Mexican people Octavia Paz – Writer (above) Native American foods – Corn, chocolate, tomatoes, bean, squash, chili Spaniards brought beef, chicken, cheese & olive oil Tortilla Party of Institutional Revolution (PRI) For years, only one party in Mexico Migrant Workers – travel from place to place to find work Zapatista Army – Mayans rebelling in the Southern part of Mexico for their independence