Cultural Geography of Latin America

Cultural Geography of Latin AmericaBy Mr. Jack

Pages 214-220

A study of the cultural geography of Latin America highlights how history, geography and the blending of native and imported cultures have shaped the region.

MexicoThousands of years ago, the first people of Mexico made great civilizations

MexicoFor hundreds of years, different ethnic groups mixed, making todays Mexico.

(ethnic group)a group sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

(grupo etnico)Un grupo de personas que comparten una ascendencia comun, lengua, religion, costumbres o una combinacion de estas caracteristicas.

The PeopleMexicos first people came from Asia around 40,000 years ago.

The PeopleThey are called indigenous people, like the Native Americans of North America.

indigenous: native or coming from a place

indigena: nativo de un lugar

The PeopleIsolated from each other, they developed different.

The PeopleThe Maya grew in the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Aztecs made an Empire on the Mexican Plateau.

The PeopleBy the 16th Century, Spanish settlers mixed with the indigenous people creating a new ethnic group called mestizo.

The PeopleToday, mestizos make up the largest part of the population.

Population Density and DistributionMexico has the most people of all the Spanish speaking countries; population 109.6 million people!

Population DistributionThe pattern of population in a country, a continent, or the world.

WHERE?

Distribucion demograficaEl patron de poblacion en un pais, un continente o en el mundo.

DONDE?

Where do most people live?

Where do most people live in Mexico?

Where do most people live in Mexico?

Density and DistributionMigration shapes Mexicos population.

Density and DistributionTwo types of migration shape Mexicos population. People looking for jobs move to other areas of the world, called external migration.

Density and DistributionTwo types of migration shape Mexicos population. People looking for jobs move to the urban(city) areas of Mexico , called internal migration.

Density and DistributionMexico City is the most popular place for people to move, called urbanization.

urbanizationThe migration of people from the countryside to cities plus the natural population growth of the cities.

urbanizacionEl movimeinto de personas de las areas rurales a las ciudades.

Urban AreasMexico City is a megacity, with a population or around 19.5 million people.

Urban AreasMexico City is a megacity, with a population or around 19.5 million people.

Urban AreasMexico City is a primate city, because it dominates Mexico economically, culturally, and politically.

Share with your shoulder partner two immigrations patterns that have changed Mexicos population.

History and GovernmentNative American Empires and colonial rule influenced Mexicos political and social structures.

The Olmecs (1200 BCE) and Tenochucan created prehistoric civilizations .

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The Olmec had large towns centers, like La Venta for their religious rituals.

La Venta had a pyramid that towered above the city.

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They carved images of their rulers in gigantic heads.

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Teotihuacn ( called Place of the Gods by the Aztecs) was the first major city in Mesoamerica.

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Teotihuacn became the capital of an early kingdom from 250 BCE until 800 CE.

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200,000 people called the city home.

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Most people were farmers, that lived in government housing, painted in murals glorifying the rulers.

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The city rulers lived in the pyramids.

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Deforestation led to soil erosion.

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Deforestation is the loss or destruction of forest or trees, mainly for logging or farming.

Deforestacion la perdida destruccion de los bosques, debido principalmente a la tala de arboles para explotacion forestad o agricultura.

Farmers could no longer grow enough food to eat, so the people moved out.

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Native American EmpiresThe Mayas produced a Classical Civilization, although primarily using Stone Age technology from 250-900.

Native American EmpiresThe Mayas produced a Classical Civilization, although primarily using Stone Age technology from 250-900.

MayaMayan civilization had city-states, each governed by a king claiming to be ancestors of the Gods.

MayaMayan city-states competed and made war on each other, with the Kings leading in battle.

MayaThe Maya built well planned cities, with many temple pyramids, government housing.

MayaThe Maya built well planned cities, with many temple pyramids, government housing.

Tikal

MayaHad a glyph complete writing system .

King Yikin Chan Kawil of Tikal 734-760Built many pyramids and public buildings at Tikal.Made Tikal a super city state South by defeating other city states in the south.

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Maya

The most advanced mathematics of all the ancient world. Including the zero, not known to Europe until early modern times.

MayaDue to advanced math, Tikal even had running water for pools and baths.

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MayaThe most accurate calendars and observations of the stars.

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During the 900s to 1400s the Mayas abandoned their cities due to deforestation. Around 1400, the last northern Maya city was abandoned. MayaDIG DEEPER

Azteccivilization arose in the 1300s

AztecBuilt their capital Tenochtitlahe on an island, Mexico City today.

AztecThe Aztec s had a highly structured class system led by an emperor and military officials.

Captured tribes men sacrificed to the Sun God. High ranking priests sacrificed conquered people to their gods, to help prevent the end of time.

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AztecThe emperor owned all the land, with farmers workers and soldiers the bottom of society.

AztecUsing obsidian weapons they built an empire by conquering most of the Mexican plateau.

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AztecFarmers built floating islands to grow food called chinampas.

Aztec MathAztec Writing

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Aztec Sun Stone -- Calendar

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Aztec Sun Motifs

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AztecThe Aztec Empire was still expanding when Spanish explorers landed on the Yucatan Peninsula in 1519.

Aztec Gold

Fernando Cortez1518-1520

The First Spanish Conquests:The AztecsConquistadors

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The Death of Montezuma II

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Mexico Surrenders to Cortez after 90 percent of the Aztecs and Maya die of dieses.

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An Independent NationFor the next 300 years, Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire.

An Independent NationThe Spanish brought the feudal system of government to New Spain.

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The ruler of Spain appointed a royal viceroy, who gave large amounts of land to elite men to rule.

This included the present-day Mexican states of Oaxaca, Morelos, Veracruz and Mexico.

Cortez received the Oaxaca Valley for himself, which his family owned until 1814. It came with 23,000 servants and slaves.

An Independent NationThey also brought the Roman Catholic Church.

With your shoulder partner, compare the social and political structure of the USA and historical Latin America.

Priests went with the conquistadors to convert people to the Roman Catholic Church.

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Friar Deigo de Landa 1524 1579Ruthlessly converted indigenous people to the RCC, and burnt all the Mayan writings and libraries.

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The Influence of the Colonial Catholic Church Guadalajara Cathedral

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Spanish Mission

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An Independent NationIn the late 1700s, Mexicans resented being ruled by Spain.

An Independent NationA priest, Father Miguel Hidalgo led the Mexican independence movement in 1810.

An Independent NationIn 1821, Mexico became independent.

An Independent NationHowever, political and economic power still remained in the hands of the elite.

An Independent NationPower struggles in revolts led to a new kind of leader the caudillo or dictator.

An Independent NationWealthy people, the military, and RCC supported the caudillo.

An Independent NationFrance tired to take advantage of this and Emperor Napoleon 3 tired to conquer Mexico.

An Independent NationOn May 5, 1862, General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequin defeated the army of Napoleon 3 at the battle of Puebla.

An Independent NationIn 1917, a new constitution established a federal republic based on the US model.

An Independent NationYet, one party, the Partido Revolucionario Institucionnal dominated the presidency until the year 2000.

An Independent NationVincente Fox won the election.

Language and Religion90 percent of the population speaks Spanish, yet 50 indigenous languages are still spoken.

Language and Religion90 percent of the people are Roman Catholics.

Education and Health CarePublic schools are not funded well in rural areas.

Education and Health CareThe government has made adult literacy programs.

Education and Health CareMalnutrition has declined in Mexico, yet still remains a problem.

The ArtsMural paintings have a history going back to Maya times.

The ArtsDiego Rivera (d 1957) murals focus on Mexican history.

The ArtsDiego Rivera (d 1957) murals focus on Mexican history.

The ArtsFrida Kahlo July 6, 1907 July 13, 1954

Chapter Review pg 2201-4

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