Mexico’s HistoryChapter 6 Section 2

Olmec Civilization (1200 BC)

• First to use maize = corn!•Used Jade in jewelry.•Carved huge statues out of

obsidian.

Mayan Civilization (250 BC – 900 A.D.)

• Built huge pyramids, temples, palaces, stadiums, town squares decorated with murals.

• Polytheistic = Sacrifice of animals and humans.• Trade = Salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey, squash,

maize = corn, beans.• Developed hieroglyphic system of writing.

Totlec Civilization ( 900 to 1200 A.D.)

• Daily Human Sacrifices to Quetzacoatl the feathered dragon war god.• Built large pyramids, temples,

courtyards.• VERY Warlike!

Aztec Civilization (1200 to 1520 A.D.)• Beautiful capital city on island in center of

Volcano. Tenochtilan (Mexico City)• Larger than Rome or London (200,000

people)• MASSIVE Temples and Pyramids• Sacrificed humans daily.• Trade = Corn, Chocolate, Vanilla, Beans,

Tomatoes, Potatoes, GOLD!• Conquered weaker tribes near them.

Spanish Conquest (1520)• Hernando Cortez conquerors Aztecs in

1520.• Spanish settle all of Mexico building

large Haciendas.• Brought Roman Catholicism, Spanish

language, and culture.• Took back gold and food riches.

Hernando Cortez

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Indian_Corn_Maize_Zea_mays_3008px.jpg

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Mexican Independence (1821)• Father Hidalgo first called for Mexican

independence in 1810. –Army of 60,000 Mestizos and Indians marched

on Mexico City. –Unfortunately the rebellion was defeated.

• In 1820 Spain went into revolution. –Augustin de Iturbide (Emperor Augustin) led

Mexico to Independence in 1821.

General InturbidePedro Miguel Hidalgo

Revolution (1910)• 1910 Emiliano Zapata led a

revolution to end the corrupt government of Mexico.• He won and nationalized the

haciendas.• Unfortunately, Mexico’s

government is as corrupted as ever.