World Geography Today Mexico Preview Section 1 Natural

World Geography Today Mexico Preview Section 1: Natural Environments Section 2: History and Culture Section 3: Mexico Today Chapter Wrap-Up Chapter 10

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Read to Discover • What are the main landforms of Mexico? • What climates, biomes, and natural resources does Mexico have?

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Mexico’s Landforms • The Mexican Plateau makes up most of the country. • Three mountain ranges border the plateau. • Coastal plains lie between mountains and the sea. • The Valley of Mexico is high and broad; Mexico City is located there.

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Mexico’s Landforms (continued) • Mountains southeast of Mexico City include great volcanoes. • Rugged, varied terrain in southern Mexico • The Isthmus of Tehuantepec forms narrow strip of land in the south. • The Yucatán Peninsula, a flat, limestone-based region, is located in the southeast.

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Climates and Biomes • North and Northwest—Arid and semiarid; scrub vegetation, desert plants, and grasslands • East and Southeast—Humid, subtropical; forests. • Southern Valleys—Mild; subtropical • Mexican Plateau—Cool highland climates

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Climates and Biomes (continued) • Pacific subtropical high-pressure cell creates dry weather dominating two-thirds of Mexico’s land • Northeast tradewinds bring humid air from the east and southeast, especially in summer • Elevation affects climate: rain shadows on western slopes; subtropical climates in some mountain valleys; cool highland climates at higher elevations

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 1: Natural Environments Natural Resources • Mexico has few major rivers, but some provide irrigation and hydroelectric power. • Mexico is rich in minerals, including silver, gold, iron, lead, and mercury. • Oil is the country’s most valuable resource.

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 2: History and Culture Read to Discover • What were the cultures of Mexico like before the Spanish arrived? • How did Spanish control change Mexico? • What has Mexico’s history been like since independence?

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 2: History and Culture Early Cultures of Mexico • Many cultures existed, each with its own language and customs. • Farmers grew beans, corn, peppers, and squash. • Complex civilizations—Maya, Olmec, Toltec, Zapotec—had large city centers. • The Aztecs created an empire and a great capital city, Tenochtitlán, in south central Mexico.

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 2: History and Culture Question What changes occurred in Mexico during the colonial period?

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 2: History and Culture Disease Many indigenous people were killed by European diseases. Farming Small communal ejidos were replaced by large haciendas. Government Population Religion Aztec Empire was replaced by a Spanish colonial government. Mestizos became the largest segment of the population. Most people were converted to Roman Catholicism.

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 2: History and Culture Mexico since Independence • After independence (1821), powerful families still in control • Northern territory lost in 1848 after war with United States • Late 1800 s—Foreign investment fueled economic growth, inequality • Mexican Revolution (1910– 1920)—Some reform, but power remained in few hands • Modern economy open to foreign business • Increasingly urban and industrial, with large tourist industry • Society changing rapidly; more democratic politics

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 3: Mexico Today Read to Discover • What are the economic and cultural regions of Mexico? • What challenges face Mexico?

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 3: Mexico Today Mexico’s Regions • Greater Mexico City—cultural, economic, political center • Central Mexico—fertile farm area; Guadalajara secondlargest city • Gulf Lowlands—hot and humid; economy based on farming, ranching, trade, oil production • Southern Mexico—Yucatán and Chiapas highlands; Mayan areas, subsistence farming • Northern Mexico—more prosperous; industry centered in Monterrey; commercial agriculture, tourism

World Geography Today Section 3: Mexico Today Question What are some challenges for the future of Mexico? Chapter 10

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Section 3: Mexico Today Challenges for the Future Resolving Economic Inequality • Poverty • Wealth in the hands of a few people • Few opportunities for Mexican Indians • Loss of skilled laborers through migration Reducing Crime Improving Infrastructure • Result of widespread poverty • Main route for drug smuggling into the United States • Government corruption • Lack of clean water and modern sewers • Many roads and railways out of date • Difficult to move goods to market

World Geography Today Chapter 10 Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas 1. Why does northwestern Mexico have dry weather? 2. What peoples ruled Mexico before the arrival of Spaniards? 3. Why is Roman Catholicism the most common religion in Mexico? 4. In what ways is Greater Mexico City important to the entire country? 5. How have Mexican politics changed in recent years?