Mexico’s History !!!By: Joanna Jamerson
&
Areli Valencia
YOU GUYS BETTER BE EXCITED
The Spanish are Coming!
The Spanish arrived in 1519 and within 20 years they took control of Mexico.
Natives lacked horses, cannons, and resistance to diseases.
Spain during this time:Hybrid Society
Christian and Muslim (invaded Spain in 711 from North Africa)
THE OLMEC YAY!
Considered the mother culture of the Meso-American people.
The Olmec were located on Mexico’s southern Gulf Coast around 1200 B.C. (that’s a long time ago)
Map HERE!
Major Cities
San Lorenzo was the earliest Olmec site and it survived until 900 B.C. (they played games)
La Venta, was awesome, but it fell during 500-400 B.C.
The last Olmec site was Tres Zapotes, and it survived until 100 B.C.
Then there were no Olmec People
Olmec’s Magic Stones! (this is kind of scary)
The Olmecs made large stone heads, from five to nine feet and weighing about 40 tons. (people believe they depict rulers)
The material for these stone heads came from TUXTLA MOUNTAINS, some fifty to sixty miles away. (I guess that’s walking distance for the almighty OLMEC)
It’s Magical Looking!
Olmec’s Influence
It influenced many indigenous societies from northern Mexico down to Costa Rica; this is why they are considered the MOTHER CULTURE.
Olmec practiced mathematics, writing, and astronomy.DOT = 1BAR = 5 SHELL = 0Writing was based on hieroglyphics.
Continued.
Many cultures adopted Olmec’s Gods.Rain God= TlatocPlumed serpent deity = Quetzalcoatl
First Ritual Ball Court found in San Lorenzo
Often the game was attached to politics.
MAYA?
The Mayan were one of the few cultures who developed an urban culture in tropical forests.Urban centers = religious centers ?TIKAL was their principal cityTerrain hard to survive (bad farmland, bad weather,
pretty much bad everything… yet they were able to build complex temples)
Most complicated and developed writing system in the Americas
Practiced SLASH AND BURN methodsMAIZE was their main crop
Mayan Hierarchy
MAYA POPULATION LEAVE
They randomly left their cities around 900 A.D.
Reason? A mystery till this day.
Teotihuacan (means place of the Gods) 100-750 A.D.
City State, reached its height in 200 A.D.
Eight square miles, (one of the largest cities in the world during that time) and its population was between 125,000 to 250,000
Religious Center had temple to Quetzalcoatl and pyramids to the sun and moon.
Declined in 650; there was a loss of population probably due to a drought.
TOLTEC (funny name)
Considered them cultural heirs of the Teotihuacanos.
Established capital city of Tula in 968.
Read Second Paragraph on Page 8
Their empire eventually declined due to violence.
Mexica-Nahua? Empire
Mexican arrived in central Mexico in 1253.
Azcapotzalco, city-state hired the Mexica as mercenaries.
1325 established the city of Tenochtitlan.
Triple Alliance was created in 1430 between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan (tacuba)
By 1500, tenochtitlan rulers ruled over fifteen million people, and 38 cities. OMG!!!
Aztec Empire Pic?
Beliefs
Human Sacrifices, Read 1st Para. in Religious Beliefs Section
Moctezuma II (Moctechucoma Xocoyotzin) assumed office in 1502 and took five thousand people for sacrifices from the cities of Nopallin and Icpatepec.
Aztec Politics
Branches of the Elite(tecuhli/lords)
Consisted of Civil authorities, military officers, and priests.
Civil AuthoritiesParticipated in war activitiesShared in tribute wealthReceived income from land set aside and worked by
the local peasantry.
Officials and Priests
OfficialsControlled the districts of the Cap. Military Elite, tecuhli, were the political foundation
PriestsWas a hard jobOnly the priesthood allowed women to workMothers could dedicate their daughters for
priesthood at early age. :P
Education
Calmeac ( School for the children of the elite)Preparation to enter one of branches of governmentStudied military, history, mathematics, records,
politics, and obligations among the different classes. Stressed self discipline, polite intercourse, manners,
and religious piety
Telpochalli (school for the lower)Vocational skillsRitual practicesCivic responsibilitiesRespect for authority
Pochteca…HUH?!?
MerchantsMarry among each otherLive in separate districtsHalfway between elite and craftsmenWere often wealthy, but power was measured by
your state service and not your wealth.
POWER
Why did they achieve such a vast EMPIRE?
Military
Spanish Conquest (HOLA AMIGOS)
Columbus’s voyage in 1492
Spain establishes posts in Greater Antilles
Spain creates an Audencia (high court) in Santo Domingo in 1511Native LaborTried to control
Greater Antilles PIC
Catholic Church
Against Indian Slavery; wants them to convert
Helped the Spanish by providing funds
Hernan Cortes(IMPORTANT)
1517 and 1518: two full-scale incursions which were moderately successful. Failed to go inland.
1519 expedition led by Hernan Cortes Poorly planned due to arguments with Gov. Diego
Velasquez of Cuba 400 men Twelve cannons Number of horses Marina = Malinche (defeating Potonchan of Tabasco)
(Nahuatl and Mayan) Cortes and Tlaxcalans defeated Aztec Tenochtitlan
Hernan Cortes
I LOVE HIS HAT. Joanna loved his hair.
Magical Masks
Veracruz - Cortes faced three masks: Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Tlaloc, each symbolized something different
Spanish defeated Technotitlan Moctezuma ruled as a Spanish Puppet (shame on
him)He was replaced, then the Spanish were trapped The Spanish fled the city, known as la Noche Triste,
Lamentable Night. (June 1521)
Religion (I know, I don’t want to talk about it either)
12 Franciscans arrived in 1524
Dominicans in 1526
Augustinians in 1533
Juan de Zumarraga (1468-1548), first bishop of MexicoSupported learning Native Language/BeliefsRefuted Native BeliefsUnderstood that indigenous Catholic priesthood had
to be trained
Juan de Zumarraga
He’s Scary Looking. Maybe it’s a religious thing…
Pedro de Gante (1480-1572)
Established the Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlalteloco, supported by Zamarraga, opened in 1537
Virgen de Guadalupe
Franciscan friars created a shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Apocalypse on Tepeyac Hill, a site connected with the Mexican goddess Tonanzin.
Juan Diego fused the two cultures together
The Spanish crown is scurred
Missionaries gaining power among people
Disbanded missionaries and hired reg. priests
Not enough for all people, so beliefs still continued
Cortes’ System
Crown is scurred again?!?!?!
Cortes gaining power among people
Crown elevated New Spain to kingdom, equal to kingdoms in Spain
Kingdom meant that king had power over it
JUST SO YOU KNOW THE CROWN IS ALWAYS SCURRED!!!!
Politics of New Spain
Random Politic things
Antonio de Mendoza (1495-1552) was the first viceroy of New Spain.
In Mex. City an Indian council was organizedCity’s four Indian quartersFood, water, sanitation, crime, supervision of
markets
Consulado
Organization that represented the large scale merchants and had close ties to the upper class.
Settled disputes between merchants
Lobbied the viceroy and officials to protect merchants interest.
Education in New Spain
At least one primary school must be maintained in each municipality. Not enforced.
University of Mex. Opened in 1533 Women could not attend Mixed-race individuals could not attend Theology and law were taught in Latin Indian Languages and Medicine, By 1820, 29,882 B.A.’s and 1,680 advanced degrees
matched Spain’s education
Minor Revolt
Mixton War (1541-42), northwest part, present day Jalisco. Indian resentment to Spanish rule and religion 3,000 indigenous soldiers vs. 300 Spaniards
WHO WON?!?!
The Spanish won,
Led by Viceroy Mendoza.
Bourbon Dynasty
Bourbons claimed the crown of Spain in 1713
Wanted to make the colonies more efficient, sent Jose de Galvez to inspect from 1765-1771.
He attacked the political system
No changes were made due to the lack of funds
Colonial Society (two groups)
Non-IndiansSpaniards, Mexican-born Spaniards, and creoles
(upper class), mestizos, small number of Africans
IndiansEveryone else
Information may be misleading.
People DYING!!! OMG!
Diseases (smallpox, measles, plague, yellow fever, and etc.)
Created Pandemics of 1520-21, 1545-48, 1576-79, 1629-31, and 1634-35
The Indian population fell from 25 mil. to 1 mil. by 1635.
Pretty much everyone died!!!
Memorizing Random Things
African + Spanish = Mulattoes?
By 1650, European women only made up 16.5 % of the immigrants; by the end of the century it was up to 28%
Urban = mixed
Rural = indigenous
Marrying Second Cousins was the norm, to keep money in the family.
Patriarchal Society
MALE CONTROLS EVERYTHINGControls all members of the familyChildren were considered adults at age 25, both
female and male had the same rights, once married the power shifts to the male.
Women were able to receive dowries from family.
Respected place for women? What?!?
Convents were often chosen by women, because they were often free to do what they wish.
Required a smaller dowry
Nuns ran schools for girls
Wrote verses
Often studiedEx. : Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz (1648-95) did a
lot of things
Mexico made Spain Rich!
Mexico was Spain’s most productive and richest colonyMiningAgricultural resources
Horses, mules, burros, oxen required less workers
MONEY IS SCARCESilver was exported to Spain due to high demandMint was established in Mex. City in 1535
MINING WAS IMPORTANT
END OF
SECTION ONE