Mexico

A Place of Three

Cultures

What are the three cultures that make up Modern Mexico?

• Indian• Spanish • Modern

Indian

Indian

• Aztecs built the most powerful empire in Mexico– In the 1400s they controlled most of south

central Mexico– Tenochtitlan was their capital– Built on an island in a lake. It was were

modern day Mexico City is.– In 1519 the Spanish conquered the Aztecs and

left their empire in ruins

Tenochtitlan

Spanish

SpanishSpanish established four social classes in Mexico1. Peninsulares – Those born in Spain.

• They held high official positions

2. Criollos – People of Spanish ancestry3. Mestizos – People of mixed ancestry

• Mixed Spanish and Native American heritage

4. Indians – Native to Mexico• They were the lowest level of society• Indians worked on haciendas or large Spanish-owned

estates• Most of the time they didn’t get much money and

lived almost a slaves existence

Spanish

• Mexico became independent in 1821

• In 1910 the Mexican Revolution occurred– They got rid of the dictatorship that was

running the country– They established a democratic government– They tried to establish the thought of “land,

bread and justice for all”

Mexico Today

Mexico Today

• Large estates were purchased and broken up so more people could work the land– They redistributed it to groups that owned the

land or Ejidos– Most of these people practice subsistence

farming

• The rest are large commercial farms or Latifundios or Haciendas

Mexico Today

• Urban Life– Upper class – small group

• Well educated

• Most are descendents of Criollos

– Middle class – Skilled workers • This group is growing

– Lower class – Very poor • This is the largest group

Mexico Today• Mexico’s economy

– Three major industries• Tourism

• Petroleum

• Manufacturing

– Maquiladoras • Factories that make products for sale in the U.S.

• Many of these factories are located near the U.S. Mexican border

Mexico Today

• NAFTA– North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement– Trade agreement between U.S., Canada Mexico– Reduces or takes away tariffs on trade

Mexico Today

• Emigration– Many workers go to the U.S. to work and make

money– Mexico is quickly urbanizing

• Mexico City is the largest city in the world

• Mexico City is also one of the dirtiest cities in the world

• Mexicans move to the city in search of jobs