Vocabulary for Mexico

Latin America – all land south of the US

Middle America – Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean Islands

Sierra Madre Mountain Range – surrounds the Central Plateau in Mexico

Central Plateau – largest land region in Mexico

Vocabulary

Yucatan Peninsula – a peninsula off the southeast coast of Mexico; splits the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea – Maya lived here

Baja Peninsula – a long peninsula off the northwest coast of Mexico; it is separated from the mainland of Mexico by the Gulf of California.

Sonoran Desert – a desert in northwestern Mexico near the US border

VocabularyAztecs - early Native American civilization of Mexicohaciendas – large ranchesRoman Catholic – Mexico’s major religionSpanish – the official language of Mexicofiesta – Spanish word for festivalFather Miguel Hildalgo – father of Mexican IndependenceOur Lady of Guadalupe – patroness of the Americas

Key Terms

Land bridge

Subsistence farming

Adobe

Peninsula

The LandMexico is located on the continent of North

America, south of the US.

Mexico is bordered by the US to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the south, the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Mexico was once called “land of the shaking earth” because of its many earthquakes.

Cities

Mexico City – capital city and most populated city in the Western Hemisphere

Acapulco –major seaport for shipping & cruise lines; large tourist resort

Cities

Guadalajara – second most populated city; located in central eastern Mexico; center of culture, history, economy and industry.

Climate

Mexico’s climate is hot and humid in the lower valleys and cooler in the mountain tops.

Mexico’s rainy season is May to October.

The Economy

Service industries strengthen the country’s economy. A service industry is a business that provides services to people instead of making goods.Banking and tourism are Mexico’s main service industries.

EconomyThe manufacturing of cars, textiles and processed foods are other industries important to Mexico.

Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver.

Oil is Mexico’s most important natural resource.

…Economy cont.

Although rich in minerals, Mexico is poor in fertile land.Central Mexico is the economic heart of the country, home of Mexico City.In the south are subsistence farms,small plots where farmers grow only enough food to feed their families.Tourism is also important in the south with beautiful beaches.Mexico has become less a country of farms and villages and more of a country of factories and cities, this is a result of industrialization.

The People

60% of Mexico’s people are mestizos.Mestizos are people of mixed Native American and European ancestries.Mexican homes are usually made of adobe, or sun-dried clay brick.

…People cont.

Every village has a marketplace where families sell or trade clothes, food, baskets, or pottery.

For celebrations, Mexicans throw fiestas. Fiestas are festivals that include parades, fireworks, music, and dancing. Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is a Mexican national holiday.

Soccer is the country’s most popular sport.

The Food

Traditional Mexican food combines Spanish and Native American cooking.Corn has always been the most important food in Mexico.

…Food cont.

Mexicans make tortillas, a thin flat cornmeal bread shaped by hands and cooked on a griddle.A folded tortilla filled with vegetables, cheese, beans, and meat becomes a taco.Tacos are not only a favorite Mexican food, they are also enjoyed by many Americans.

Mexican Wrap Up

The culture of modern Mexico mixes old and new art, music, and literature grown from Native American, Spanish, and Mexican roots.

Por Favor, Adios!