The Zócalo The Zócalo

Political and Cultural Political and Cultural Center of Mexico Center of Mexico

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan• Aztec name for present day Mexico CityAztec name for present day Mexico City• Founded in 1325 – on Lake Texcoco Founded in 1325 – on Lake Texcoco • Urban built environment divided into four zones Urban built environment divided into four zones • One of the largest cities in the World in 1519 One of the largest cities in the World in 1519

Spanish ConquestSpanish Conquest• Hernán Cortés arrives on Hernán Cortés arrives on

November 8, 1519November 8, 1519• Moctezuma II believed Cortés Moctezuma II believed Cortés

to be the returning god to be the returning god QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl

• Aided by local tribes, Cortés Aided by local tribes, Cortés conquers and destroys most conquers and destroys most the citythe city

• Mexico City’s Zócalo is located Mexico City’s Zócalo is located at the original central plaza at the original central plaza and market of Tenochtitlan and market of Tenochtitlan

Mexican Independence Mexican Independence (1810 – 1821) (1810 – 1821)

• Miguel Hidalgo, a parish Miguel Hidalgo, a parish priestpriest

• Led a peasant rebellion Led a peasant rebellion against the wealthy land against the wealthy land ownersowners

• Mexico marks its Mexico marks its independence on September independence on September 16, 181016, 1810

• 1815 to 1821, most the 1815 to 1821, most the fighting was done by guerrilla fighting was done by guerrilla forcesforces

• José María Morelos y Pavón José María Morelos y Pavón takes over for Higalgotakes over for Higalgo

• Treaty of Córdoba sealed Treaty of Córdoba sealed Mexican independence Mexican independence

Mexico/USA compete for Mexico/USA compete for Control of North America Control of North America

• Texas fights Texas fights for for independence independence opens the opens the conflictconflict

• Mexican Mexican American WarAmerican War

• Treaty of Treaty of Guadalupe Guadalupe Hidalgo Hidalgo ratifies U. S. ratifies U. S. dominance dominance

Ruins of the Templo Ruins of the Templo Mayor of the Aztecs: Mayor of the Aztecs:

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Templo Mayor as an Urban Templo Mayor as an Urban Structure Structure

- 60 m high60 m high- Dominated the plaza with duel templesDominated the plaza with duel temples- TlalocTlaloc (god of water and rain, mainstay of (god of water and rain, mainstay of

the crop cycle), the crop cycle), - HuitzilopochtliHuitzilopochtli (god of war, patron of (god of war, patron of

conquests and tributes conquests and tributes

Catedral Metropolitana Catedral Metropolitana

Catedral Metropolitana Catedral Metropolitana as an Urban Structure as an Urban Structure

Located on the ZócaloLocated on the ZócaloOldest and largest cathedral in Latin Oldest and largest cathedral in Latin

AmericaAmericaBaroque facade and 64m Neoclassical-Baroque facade and 64m Neoclassical-

style towers 18 bells eachstyle towers 18 bells eachCurrent cathedral built 1667, finished Current cathedral built 1667, finished

18131813

La Enseñanza ChurchLa Enseñanza ChurchSecond oldest Second oldest

cathedral in Mexico cathedral in Mexico CityCity

Built in late 17Built in late 17thth-18-18thth centurycentury

Baroque style built by Baroque style built by Francisco GuerreroFrancisco Guerrero

Palacio Nacional Palacio Nacional Hernán Cortés, built this government Hernán Cortés, built this government

palace on the site of Moctezuma's palace.palace on the site of Moctezuma's palace.Palacio Nacional of today dates back to Palacio Nacional of today dates back to

1693. 1693. Floor was added in the 1920s.Floor was added in the 1920s.Contains murals by Diego Rivera. Contains murals by Diego Rivera.

Portrays "Epic of the Mexican People in their Portrays "Epic of the Mexican People in their Struggle for Freedom and Independence“Struggle for Freedom and Independence“

Two thousand years of history are condensed Two thousand years of history are condensed into space of an enormous wall. into space of an enormous wall.

Palacio NacionalPalacio Nacional

Courtyard of Palacio Courtyard of Palacio NacionalNacional

Diego Rivera MuralsDiego Rivera Murals

Murals of Palacio Murals of Palacio NacionalNacional

The Zócalo Today The Zócalo Today

The Zócalo SurroundingsThe Zócalo Surroundings

La Enseñanza Church La Enseñanza Church

Political Significance Political Significance For the Spanish - the plaza is “a For the Spanish - the plaza is “a

manifestation of local social order, of manifestation of local social order, of the between citizens and the the between citizens and the authority of the state.”authority of the state.”

For the Amerindians – representation For the Amerindians – representation of Aztec plazas at the center of the of Aztec plazas at the center of the citiescities

The Tiger of the South andThe Tiger of the South andthe Centaur of the Norththe Centaur of the North

Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution of 1910 – 1917 of 1910 – 1917

Overthrew the Overthrew the dictator Porferio dictator Porferio Dictator DiasDictator Dias

Revolutionaries Revolutionaries occupied and held occupied and held Mexico City 3 times Mexico City 3 times - between 1914-- between 1914-1915)1915)

2001 - Zapatistas look 2001 - Zapatistas look back to earlier back to earlier revolutionaries revolutionaries

Lead by Subcomandante Marcos Lead by Subcomandante Marcos More than 100,000 people crowded the PlazaMore than 100,000 people crowded the PlazaDemand Indian RightsDemand Indian RightsSecure their place in Modern MexicoSecure their place in Modern Mexico

Question 1Question 1

The plaza has played a The plaza has played a significant role in Mexican significant role in Mexican politics in the past, will this politics in the past, will this be changed by new venues of be changed by new venues of political communication in political communication in the 21the 21stst century? century?

Question 2Question 2The cultural significance of the plaza The cultural significance of the plaza

and its surrounding urban and its surrounding urban infrastructure has been great since infrastructure has been great since before the Spanish conquest. What before the Spanish conquest. What is the political significance of the is the political significance of the urban built environment in in urban built environment in in contemporary Mexico?contemporary Mexico?

Question 3Question 3

How have contemporary Mexican How have contemporary Mexican governments used plazas in governments used plazas in general , and the general , and the Zócalo Zócalo specifically, specifically, to shape Mexican political culture? to shape Mexican political culture?

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"Wars of Independence, 1810-21." 7 Feb. "Wars of Independence, 1810-21." 7 Feb. 20062006<<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/11.htm>.>.

SourcesSourcesLow, Setha M. Low, Setha M. Cultural Meaning of the Cultural Meaning of the

Plaza: The History of the Spanish-Plaza: The History of the Spanish-American Gridplan-Plaza Urban Design. American Gridplan-Plaza Urban Design. In the Cultural Meaning of Urban SpaceIn the Cultural Meaning of Urban Space. . Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. 1993. 75-83.1993. 75-83.

Rebels ride into Mexico CityRebels ride into Mexico City. BBC. 11 Mar. . BBC. 11 Mar. 2001. 2001. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americ<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1213778.stm>. as/1213778.stm>.

SourcesSources"Emiliano Zapata." "Emiliano Zapata." WikipediaWikipedia. 8 Feb. . 8 Feb.

2006 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata>. _Zapata>.

"Who Was Pancho Villa?" "Who Was Pancho Villa?" The California The California NativeNative. 8 Feb. 2006 . 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.calnative.com/stories/n_v<http://www.calnative.com/stories/n_villa.htm>. illa.htm>.