The Maya and the Aztecs Mayas Society formed

The Maya and the Aztecs • Mayas – Society formed around 100 B. C. – Settled the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America – Recorded history with hieroglyphics – Declined around A. D. 900

Maya and the Aztecs • Aztecs – Settled Mexico City around A. D. 1325 – Tenochtitlan was built on islands – Constructed chinampas or floating gardens for growing food – Warriors conquered neighbors, caused them to be hated – Practiced slavery – Declined in 1500’s

What did they have in common? • Create complex calendars • Formed highly developed civilizations • Large cities and strong religious beliefs

The Conquistadors • Hernan Cortes and 500 Spanish explorers arrive in Mexico in 1518 to search for land Aztec wealth • Cortes saw that the Aztecs were hated by other native groups • Aztec ruler Montezuma welcomes Cortes, believes he is a god

Conquistadors • Motivated by Aztec wealth, the conquistadors waged war, killing Montezuma and defeating the Aztecs • The Spaniards were victorious across central America building a vast empire • Mexico and parts of United States were under Spanish rule for 100’s of years

Mexican Independence • Class Structure – Peninsulares- born in Spain, held highest church and government offices – Criollos- people of Spanish background born in Mexico – Mestizos- people of mixed Spanish and native heritage – Native Americans and slaves

Revolutionaries • Miguel Hidalgo – Catholic priest – Led an army of 100, 000 men – Spanish resisted , defeated and executed Hidalgo in 1811

Jose Morelos • • Declared independence from Spain Wanted social equality Drafted a constitution Spain refused to accept, Spanish troops defeat him in 1821, he is executed

Augustin de Iturbide • Three guarantees – Mexico would be independent from Spain – Peninsulares and Criollos would be equals – Religion would be Roman Catholic – His army defeats Spain, made himself emperor

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna • Rebelled against Iturbide • Forces him into exile • Makes Mexico a republic

Mexican American War • 1830 - Mexico passes a law blocking American settlement in Mexico • 1836 - Texans rebel at the Alamo and the battle of San Jacinto • 1845 - Texas joins the United States • 1846 - U. S. declares war on Mexico • 1848 - Mexico signs Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo

Mexican American War • 1853 - The Gadsden Purchase adds land to U. S. border • 1858 - Benito Juarez becomes president of Mexico, promotes equality

Mexican Revolution • Juarez dies and so does equality • Porfirio Dias becomes dictator and favors the rich • Common people want land reform- break up large estates and give them to the poor • Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa lead the rebels and Mexican Civil War lasts from 1910 -1920