The Maya and the Aztecs
• Mayas
– Society formed around 100B.C.
– Settled the Yucatan Peninsula and Central
America
– Recorded history with hieroglyphics
– Declined around A.D. 900
Maya and the Aztecs
• Aztecs
– Settled Mexico City around A.D.1325
– Tenochtitlan was built on islands
– Constructed chinampas or floating gardens for growing
food
– Warriors conquered neighbors, caused them to be hated
– Practiced slavery
– Declined in1500’s
What did they have in common?
• Create complex calendars
• Formed highly developed civilizations
• Large cities and strong religious beliefs
The Conquistadors
• Hernan Cortes and 500 Spanish explorers
arrive in Mexico in 1518 to search for land
and Aztec wealth
• Cortes saw that the Aztecs were hated by
other native groups
• Aztec ruler Montezuma welcomes Cortes,
believes he is a god
Conquistadors
• Motivated by Aztec wealth, the
conquistadors waged war, killing
Montezuma and defeating the Aztecs
• The Spaniards were victorious across
central America building a vast empire
• Mexico and parts of United States were
under Spanish rule for 100’s of years
Mexican Independence
• Class Structure
– Peninsulares- born in Spain, held highest
church and government offices
– Criollos- people of Spanish background born in
Mexico
– Mestizos- people of mixed Spanish and native
heritage
– Native Americans and slaves
Revolutionaries
• Miguel Hidalgo
– Catholic priest
– Led an army of 100,000 men
– Spanish resisted , defeated and executed
Hidalgo in 1811
Jose Morelos
•
•
•
•
Declared independence from Spain
Wanted social equality
Drafted a constitution
Spain refused to accept, Spanish troops
defeat him in 1821, he is executed
Augustin de Iturbide
• Three guarantees
– Mexico would be independent from Spain
– Peninsulares and Criollos would be equals
– Religion would be Roman Catholic
– His army defeats Spain, made himself emperor
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
• Rebelled against Iturbide
• Forces him into exile
• Makes Mexico a republic
Mexican American War
• 1830- Mexico passes a law blocking
American settlement in Mexico
• 1836- Texans rebel at the Alamo and the
battle of San Jacinto
• 1845- Texas joins the United States
• 1846- U.S. declares war on Mexico
• 1848- Mexico signs Treaty of Guadaloupe
Hidalgo
Mexican American War
• 1853- The Gadsden Purchase adds land to
U.S. border
• 1858- Benito Juarez becomes president of
Mexico, promotes equality
Mexican Revolution
• Juarez dies and so does equality
• Porfirio Dias becomes dictator and favors
the rich
• Common people want land reform- break
up large estates and give them to the poor
• Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa lead the
rebels and Mexican Civil War lasts from
1910-1920