POPULATION 301000 58 per sq mi 22 per sq kmLANGUAGES English CreoleMAJOR EXPORT PharmaceuticalsMAJOR IMPORT Foods
POPULATION 100000 436 per sq mi 168 per sq kmLANGUAGE EnglishMAJOR EXPORT Petroleum ProductsMAJOR IMPORTS Foods and Livestock
POPULATION 300000 31 per sq mi 12 per sq kmLANGUAGE EnglishMAJOR EXPORT SugarMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
POPULATION 176500000 53 per sq mi 21 per sq kmLANGUAGE PortugueseMAJOR EXPORT Iron OreMAJOR IMPORT Crude Oil
POPULATION 15800000 54 per sq mi 21 per sq kmLANGUAGE SpanishMAJOR EXPORT CopperMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
POPULATION 4200000 211 per sq mi 81 per sq kmLANGUAGE SpanishMAJOR EXPORT CoffeeMAJOR IMPORT Raw Materials
DOMINICADOMINICAPOPULATION 100000 242 per sq mi 93 per sq kmLANGUAGES English French MAJOR EXPORT BananasMAJOR IMPORT Manufactured Goods
CAPITAL RoseauLANDMASS 290 sq mi 751 sq km
Roseau
FRENCH GUIANAFRENCH GUIANA
POPULATION 200000 5 per sq mi 2 per sq kmLANGUAGE FrenchMAJOR EXPORT ShrimpMAJOR IMPORT Foods
CAPITAL CayenneLANDMASS 34749 sq mi 89999 sq km
Cayenne
GUYANAGUYANA
POPULATION 800000 9 per sq mi 4 per sq kmLANGUAGE EnglishMAJOR EXPORT SugarMAJOR IMPORT Manufactured Goods
CAPITAL GeorgetownLANDMASS 83000 sq mi 214969 sq km
Georgetown
DOMINICAN
REPUBLICDOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
POPULATION 8700000 463 per sq mi 179 per sq km
LANGUAGE Spanish
MAJOR EXPORT Ferronickel
MAJOR IMPORT Foods
CAPITAL Santo Domingo
LANDMASS 18815 sq mi 48731 sq km
SantoDomingo
GRENADAGRENADA
POPULATION 100000 800 per sq mi 309 per sq km
LANGUAGES English French
MAJOR EXPORT Bananas
MAJOR IMPORT Foods
CAPITAL St Georgersquos
LANDMASS 131 sq mi 339 sq km
St Georgersquos
HAITIHAITI
POPULATION 7500000 703 per sq mi 271 per sq km
LANGUAGES French Creole
MAJOR EXPORT Manufactured Goods
MAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Port-au-Prince
LANDMASS 10714 sq mi 27750 sq km
Port-au-Prince
ECUADORECUADOR
POPULATION 12600000 115 per sq mi 44 per sq kmLANGUAGES Spanish QuechuaMAJOR EXPORT PetroleumMAJOR IMPORT Transport Equipment
CAPITAL QuitoLANDMASS 109483 sq mi 283561 sq km
Quito
GUATEMALAGUATEMALA
POPULATION 12400000 294 per sq mi 114 per sq kmLANGUAGES Spanish Mayan LanguagesMAJOR EXPORT CoffeeMAJOR IMPORT Petroleum
CAPITAL Guatemala CityLANDMASS 42042 sq mi 108889 sq km
GuatemalaCity
POPULATION 6900000 159 per sq mi 61 per sq kmLANGUAGE SpanishMAJOR EXPORT BananasMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL TegucigalpaLANDMASS 43278 sq mi 112090 sq km
HONDURASHONDURAS
Tegucigalpa
EL SALVADOREL SALVADOR
POPULATION 6600000 817 per sq mi 315 per sq km
LANGUAGE Spanish
MAJOR EXPORT Coffee
MAJOR IMPORTRaw Materials
CAPITAL San Salvador
LANDMASS 8124 sq mi 21041 sq km
San Salvador
POPULATION 2600000 624 per sq mi 241 per sq km
LANGUAGES English Creole
MAJOR EXPORT Alumina
MAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Kingston
LANDMASS 4243 sq mi 10989 sq km
JAMAICAJAMAICA
Kingston
Territory of France
UNIT
Latin America 185
For more information on countries in this region refer tothe Nations of the World Data Bank in the Appendix
176-187 U3 CH06 RA TWIP-860976 4304 153 PM Page 185
REGIONAL ATLAS
Country Profiles
Countries and flags not drawn to scale
POPULATION 104900000 139 per sq mi 54 per sq kmLANGUAGES Spanish Native American LanguagesMAJOR EXPORT Crude OilMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Mexico CityLANDMASS 756062 sq mi 1958201 sq km
MEXICOMEXICO
Mexico City
POPULATION 5500000 109 per sq mi 42 per sq km
LANGUAGE Spanish
MAJOR EXPORT Coffee
MAJOR IMPORT Manufactured Goods
CAPITAL Managua
LANDMASS 50193 sq mi 129999 sq km
NICARAGUANICARAGUA
Managua
POPULATION 3000000 102 per sq mi 32 per sq kmLANGUAGE SpanishMAJOR EXPORT BananasMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Panama CityLANDMASS 29158 sq mi 75519 sq km
PANAMAPANAMA
Panama City
POPULATION 6200000 39 per sq mi 15 per sq km
LANGUAGES Spanish Guaraniacute
MAJOR EXPORT Cotton
MAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Asuncioacuten
LANDMASS 157046 sq mi 406749 sq km
PARAGUAYPARAGUAY
Asuncioacuten
POPULATION 27100000 55 per sq mi 21 per sq kmLANGUAGES Spanish Quechua AymaraMAJOR EXPORT CopperMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Lima
LANDMASS 496224 sq mi 1285220 sq km
Lima
PERUPERU
POPULATION 3900000 1123 per sq mi 434 per sq km
LANGUAGES Spanish English
MAJOR EXPORT Pharmaceuticals
MAJOR IMPORT Chemical Products
CAPITAL San Juan
LANDMASS 3456 sq mi 8951 sq km
San Juan
PUERTO RICOPUERTO RICO
POPULATION 50000 339 per sq mi 128 per sq kmLANGUAGE EnglishMAJOR EXPORT MachineryMAJOR IMPORT Electronic Goods
CAPITAL BasseterreLANDMASS 139 sq mi 360 sq km
Basseterre
ST KITTS and NEVISST KITTS and NEVIS
POPULATION 400000 6 per sq mi 3 per sq kmLANGUAGE DutchMAJOR EXPORT BauxiteMAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL ParamariboLANDMASS 63039 sq mi 163271 sq km
SURINAMESURINAME
ParamariboPOPULATION 200000 677 per sq mi 261 per sq kmLANGUAGES English FrenchMAJOR EXPORT BananasMAJOR IMPORT Foods
CAPITAL CastriesLANDMASS 239 sq mi 619 sq km
Castries
ST LUCIAST LUCIA
POPULATION 1300000 661 per sq mi 255 per sq km
LANGUAGE English
MAJOR EXPORT Petroleum
MAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Port-of-Spain
LANDMASS 1981 sq mi 5131 sq km
Port-of-Spain
andandTRINIDAD
TOBAGO
TRINIDAD
TOBAGO
POPULATION 100000 731 per sq mi 282 per sq km
LANGUAGES English French
MAJOR EXPORT Bananas
MAJOR IMPORT Foods
CAPITAL Kingstown
LANDMASS 151 sq mi 391 sq km
Kingstown
GRENADINES ST VINCENT and the GRENADINES ST VINCENT and the
US Commonwealth
186 UNIT 3
176-187 U3 CH06 RA TWIP-860976 4304 155 PM Page 186
POPULATION 3400000 49 per sq mi 19 per sq km
LANGUAGE Spanish
MAJOR EXPORT Wool
MAJOR IMPORT Machinery
CAPITAL Montevideo
LANDMASS 68498 sq mi 177410 sq km
URUGUAYURUGUAY
Montevideo
POPULATION 25700000 73 per sq mi 28 per sq kmLANGUAGE SpanishMAJOR EXPORT PetroleumMAJOR IMPORT Raw Materials
CAPITAL CaracasLANDMASS 352143 sq mi 912050 sq km
Caracas
VENEZUELAVENEZUELA
VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGIN ISLANDS
POPULATION 123498 922 per sq mi 356 per sq km
LANGUAGE English
MAJOR EXPORT Chemical Products
MAJOR IMPORT Crude Oil
CharlotteAmalie
CAPITAL Charlotte Amalie
LANDMASS 134 sq mi 347 sq km
Territory of US
UNIT
For more information on countries in this region refer tothe Nations of the World Data Bank in the Appendix
Brazilian rain forest h
Public and Private Needs More than one-third of thearea of Brazil is covered by a rain forest This fragile ecosystem ishome to millions of plant animal and insect species Some of theplants are important sources of medicines According to scientistsmore than 50 percent of the worldrsquos species live in the rain forest
The rain forest is also a major source of timber minerals fruits and vegetables Building roads and clearing land to reach theseresources has led to major destruction of the rain forest habitat The government of Brazil has tried to set aside large portions of therain forest as preserves The government does allow development of its natural resources as income for its citizens however
Because of its effect on climate the rain forest is important notjust to Brazil but to the whole world Who should have more sayabout how much of the rain forest is preservedmdashBrazil or theUnited Nations
Imagine that a new golf course is being built in your city The areawhere it is being built includes natural wetlands where birds andanimals live Write a letter to the city council outlining what steps youthink the golf course developers should take to protect the wetlands
WRITE ABOUT IT
176-187 U3 CH06 RA TWIP-860976 4304 156 PM Page 187
Chapter
66
To learn more about the people andplaces of Mexico view The Worldand Its People Chapter 6 video
188
MexicoMexico
Chapter Overview Visit The World and ItsPeople Web site at twipglencoecom andclick on Chapter 6mdashChapter Overviews topreview information about Mexico
Social StudiesSocial StudiesSocial StudiesSocial Studies
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1136 PM Page 188
TWIP-188
null
12016357
Moving ForwardMexico is a country working
hard to catch up with the moreindustrialized countries of theworld Today Mexico is an importanttrading partner of the United StatesHowever a rapidly growing popu-lation and a developing economy have made it difficult for Mexico to support all of its people
The Lighthouse of Commerce and the Cathedral of Monterrey Monterrey Mexico
The Lighthouse of Commerce and the Cathedral of Monterrey Monterrey Mexico
Step 3 Unfold turn the paper anddraw lines along the folds
This formsthree sections
Step 1 Fold a sheet of paper intothirds from top to bottom
Thisforms foursections
Fold it in halfthen in half
again
Step 2 Open the paper and refold it intofourths from side to side
Past Present
MexicorsquosLand
MexicorsquosEconomyMexicorsquos
Government
Step 4 Label your table as shown
Categorizing Information When you group information intocategories on a table it is easier to study characteristics of items Make this foldable to help you describe Mexicorsquos land economy andgovernmentmdashpast and present
Reading and Writing As you read the chapterrecord key facts about Mexicorsquos land economy andgovernment in the appropriate places on your table foldable
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1137 PM Page 189
190 CHAPTER 6
11
Region of Economic Mexico Activity
Northern
Central
Southern
Guide to Reading
Main Idea
Mexicorsquos mountainouslandscape and variedclimate createdifferent economicregions
Terms to Know
bull land bridge bull peninsula bull latitude bull altitude bull hurricane bull vaquero bull maquiladora bull subsistence farm bull plantation bull industrializebull service industry
Reading Strategy
Create a chart ofMexicorsquos economicregions like this oneList the maineconomic activity ofeach region
Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido
was plowing his cornfield one
day Suddenly his son heard
a rumble in the ground
Then white smoke began
to spew into the air
When they awoke the
next day they saw a
volcano 30 feet (9 m)
high Today more than
50 years later the vol-
cano named Paricutiacuten
soars nearly 9200 feet
(2800 m) above sea level
Paricutiacuten and other volcanoes are part of the rugged landscape ofMexico which sits where three plates in the earthrsquos crust collideSometimes the movement of these plates brings disastrous resultsHotmagma or melted rock shoots through a volcano The ground shiftsviolently in an earthquake Do you see why Native Americans oncecalled Mexico ldquothe land of the shaking earthrdquo
Bridging Two Continents Mexico forms part of a land bridge or narrow strip of land that
joins two larger landmasses This land bridge connects North Americaand South America Look at the map on page 191 You can see thatMexico borders the southern United States
Physical geographers or people who study continents and land-forms think of Mexico as part of North AmericaCultural geographershowever think of Mexico as being part of Latin America For cultural
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1137 PM Page 190
TWIP-190
null
10715269
geographers language customs religion and history are importantareas of study Both groups are correct Mexico is a Latin (Spanish-speaking) country on the continent of North America Its location inNorth America makes it an important trading partner to the UnitedStates and Canada Yet Mexicorsquos culture is closely tied to Central andSouth America It is a country that bridges two continents
The Pacific Ocean borders Mexico on the west Extending southalong this western coast is Baja (BAHbullhah) California It is a longnarrow peninsula or piece of land with water on three sides OnMexicorsquos eastern side the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Seaborder the coasts Between the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea is anotherpeninsulamdashthe Yucataacuten (YOObullkahbullTAHN) Peninsula
Mexico is a rugged land If you were to see it from spaceyou mightthink that the country looked like a crumpled piece of paper withdeep foldsTowering mountain ranges and a hugehigh plateau occupythe center of the country
The Sierra Madre Three different mountain ranges in Mexico make upthe Sierra Madre (SYEHRbullah MAHbullthray)or ldquomother rangerdquoBecause of
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Caribbean
Sea
Gu
lf
of
Califo
rnia
Gulf of
Mexico
Rio
Grand
e
Ya
qui
R
Monterrey
CiudadJuacutearez
Veracruz
Cancacuteun
Puebla
Leacuteon
GuadalajaraPuerto Vallarta
Mexico City
Acapulco
SINALOA
COLIMA
TABASCO
YUCATAN
QUINTANAROOCAMPECHE
PUEBLAMICHOACAN
MEXICO
NAYARIT
GUERREROMORELOS
FEDERAL DISTRICT
GUANAJUATO
ZACATECAS
JALISCO
OAXACA CHIAPAS
HIDALGO
DURANGO
COAHUILA
TAMAULIPAS
VERACRUZ
SAN LUIS POTOSIacute
AGUASCALIENTES
QUERETARO
TLAXCALA
CHIHUAHUA
SONORA
BAJACALIFORNIA
BAJACALIFORNIA
SUR
NUEVOLEON
U N I T E D S T A T E S
M E X I C O
C E N T R A LA M E R I C A
110degW
30degN
20degN
100degW 90degW
TROPIC OF CANCER
300
3000 mi
0 kmAzimuthal Equidistant projection
N
S
EW
National capitalMajor city
Mexico Political
Applying Map Skills
1 Mexico is divided intostates How many statesare there
2 What country bordersMexico on the north
Find NGS online map resources wwwnationalgeographiccommaps
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1138 PM Page 191
TWIP-191
null
8630805
192 CHAPTER 6
the rugged terrainfew people live in the Sierra MadreThe mountains arerich in resources though They hold copper zinc silver and timber
Many of Mexicorsquos mountains are volcanoes Popocatepetl (POHbullpuhbullKAbulltuhbullPEHbulltuhl) or ldquoEl Popordquo as Mexicans call it erupted vio-lently centuries ago In December 2000El Popo erupted againhurlingmolten rock into the skyAbout 30000 people from surrounding areaswere forced to temporarily leave their homes Tens of millions of peo-ple live 50 miles (80 km) or less from the mountain and could faceeven worse eruptions in the future
Mexicans face another danger from the land Earthquakes candestroy their cities and homesA 1985 earthquake killed nearly 10000people in Mexicorsquos capital Mexico City even though the earth-
quakersquos center was about 185 miles(298 km) away Mexico experiencesmany earthquakes because it is oneof the countries that border the ldquoRingof Firerdquo This name describes theactive volcanic zone that forms thewestern northern and eastern edgesof the Pacific Ocean Earthquakes inthe zone are common due to move-ment of the huge Pacific plate deepunder the earthrsquos crust
The Plateau of Mexico The mapon page 196 shows that the SierraMadre surround the large flat centerof the country the Plateau of MexicoYou find mostly deserts and grassyplains in the northern part of theplateau Broad flat valleys that slicethrough the center hold many of thecountryrsquos chief cities and most of its
people To the south the plateau steadily rises until it meets the highsnowcapped mountains of the Sierra Madre del Sur
Coastal Lowlands Mexicorsquos lowland plains squeeze between themountains and the sea The Pacific Coastal Plain begins with a hotlargely empty desert in the north As you move farther south bettersoil and rainfall allow ranching and farming along this plain On theother side of the country the Gulf Coastal Plain has more rain and fer-tile soil for growing crops and raising animals
What is the volcanic zone called that affects Mexico
Land of Many Climates Mexico has many different climatesWhy As you read in Chapter 2
latitudemdashor location north or south of the Equatormdashaffects tempera-ture The Tropic of Cancer which cuts across the center of Mexico at232ordmN latitudemarks the northern edge of the TropicsAreas south of
On Location
Mexico City
Popocatepetl rises aboveMexico Cityrsquos hazy skyline
HumanEnvironmentInteraction What two natural dangers do peoplein Mexico face
bull
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1139 PM Page 192
TWIP-192
null
18427011
Mexico 193
Sea Level
PacificOcean
CaribbeanSea
Sierra MadreOriental
Sierra MadreOccidental
Tierra templada 2500 feet (760 m) Coffee corn citrus fruit
Tierra friacutea 6500 feet (2000 m) Potatoes wheat applesTierra friacutea 6500 feet (2000 m) Potatoes wheat apples
Tierra caliente 0 feet (0 m) Bananas cacao sugarcane rice
MexicoCity
Mexicorsquos Altitude Zones
this line have warm temperatures throughout the year Areas northof this line are warm in summer and cooler in winter
Altitude or height above sea level also affects temperatures inMexico The higher the altitude the cooler the temperatures aremdasheven within the Tropics The diagram above shows that Mexicorsquosmountains and plateau create three altitude zones You could travelthrough all of these zones in a dayrsquos trip across the Sierra Madre
Because the coastal lowlands are near sea level they have high tem-peraturesMexicans call this altitude zone the tierra caliente (teebullEHbullrah kahbullleebullEHNbulltay)or ldquohot landrdquoMoving higher in altitudeyou findthe tierra templada (tehmbullPLAHbulldah) or ldquotemperate landrdquo Here theclimate becomes more moderate In the highest zone the climatebecomes even cooler Mexicans call this the tierra friacutea (FREEbullah) orldquocold landrdquo
Rainfall varies throughout Mexico Baja California and northernMexico receive very little precipitation Other regions receive moremostly in the summer and early fall From June to October Mexico canbe hit by hurricanes These fierce tropical storms with high windsand heavy rains form over the warm waters of the Atlantic or PacificOceans They can strike Mexico with fury
What is Mexicorsquos warmest altitude zone
Mexicorsquos Economic Regions Mexicorsquos physical geography and climate together give the country
three distinct economic regions the North Central Mexico and theSouth Large stretches of northern Mexico are too dry and rocky tofarm without irrigation By building canals to carry water to theirfields farmers can grow cotton fruits grains and vegetables
Northern Mexico Did you know that the skills used by Americancowhands originated in Mexico Mexican cowhands called vaqueros(vahbullKEHRbullohs)developed the tools and techniques for herding rop-ing and branding cattle Vaqueros carry on this work today
Analyzingthe Diagram
Mexico has zones ofdifferent climates thatresult from different altitudes
Location In which alti-tude zone is Mexico Citylocated
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1139 PM Page 193
TWIP-193
null
14220886
194 CHAPTER 6
Northern Mexico has seen an economic boom MonterreyMexicorsquos main producer of steel and cement has long been an
important industrial city In this and other cities many companiesfrom the United States and elsewhere have built maquiladoras
(mahbullKEELbullahbullDOHRbullas) or factories that assemble partsmade in other countries As a result thousands of Mexicanshave flocked to cities such as Tijuana (teebullWAHbullnah) andCiudad Juaacuterez (seebulloohbullDAHD HWAHbullrayz) located alongthe USndashMexico border The growth in these border citieshas raised the standard of living in northern cities throughfactory work and increased tradeHowever this quick growth
has also brought concerns about damaging the environmentpollution and dangers to the health and safety of workers
Central Mexico More than half of Mexicorsquos people live in thecentral region the countryrsquos heartland Why do they call this area
home The climate is one reason Although central Mexico lies in theTropics its high elevation keeps it from being hot and humidTemperatures are mild and the climate is pleasant year-round A sec-ond reason is the fertile soil This soil was created by volcanic erup-tions over the centuries and allows for productive farming
Large industrial cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara(GWAHbullduhlbulluhbullHAHRbulluh) also prosper in central Mexico About 22million people live in Mexico City and its suburbsmaking it one of thelargest cities in the world Mexico City has been the largest city in theAmericas since before the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s
Southern Mexico The South is the poorest economic region of thecountry The mountains towering in the center of this region havepoor soilSubsistence farms or small plots where farmers grow onlyenough food to feed their families are common here In contrast thecoastal lowlands of this area have good soil and plentiful rain Wealthyfarmers grow sugarcane or bananas on plantations large farms thatraise a single crop for sale
Both coasts of Mexico also have beautiful beaches and a warm cli-mate Tourists from all over the world flock to such resort cities asAcapulco and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast and Cancuacuten onthe Yucataacuten Peninsula
How does the economic region of northern Mexico differfrom that of southern Mexico
Mexicorsquos Economy TodayWith many resources and workersMexico has a growing economy
Did you know that Mexicorsquos economy ranks among the top 15 in theworld As in the past agriculture is important Farmers raise food tofeed people at homemdashand also to ship around the world Corn beanswheat and rice are the main crops grown for food Exports includecoffee cotton vegetables fruits livestock and tobacco
h A skilled seamstressmakes clothing in amaquiladora innorthern Mexico
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1140 PM Page 194
TWIP-194
null
1937796
Mexico
AssessmentAssessment11
High Population of
Central Mexico
In recent years Mexico has industrialized or changed its econ-omy to rely less on farming and more on manufacturing Factories inMexico now make cars consumer goods and steel The labels on yourclothing might even say ldquoMade in Mexicordquo
Mexico has large deposits of petroleum and natural gas in the Gulfof Mexico and along the southern coast As a result Mexico is amongthe worldrsquos major oil-producing nations
Mexico is also home to important service industries such as bank-ing and tourism Service industries are businesses that provide serv-ices to people rather than produce goods
NAFTA As you learned in the last unit Mexico the United Statesand Canada entered into NAFTA the North American Free TradeAgreement in 1994Remember that under this agreementmost goodstraded between these countries are free of tariffsor special taxesThismeans a homemaker in Canada would probably choose to buy a table-cloth made in Mexico rather than to pay more for a taxed tableclothproduced in Europe
Some Americans have been afraid that belonging to NAFTAmeans American jobs will ldquogo southrdquo They fear that the lower rate of pay for labor in Mexico will encourage many manufacturersto move their businesses to Mexico rather than keep them in the United States The debate about the overall effect of NAFTA isstill going on
Why are some Americans afraid jobs will ldquogo southrdquo
Defining Terms 1 Define land bridge peninsula latitude altitude
hurricane vaquero maquiladora subsistencefarm plantation industrialize service industry
Recalling Facts 2 History How did the vaqueros of Mexico
influence American ranching
3 Location Why is Mexico a land bridge
4 Economics Why have many Mexicans movedto the cities of the north
Critical Thinking 5 Understanding Cause and Effect How
has NAFTA affected the people in Canadaand the people in Mexico Do you thinkNAFTA has been good or bad for the peoplein border cities of the United States Explain
6 Analyzing Information Why is Mexico partof both North America and Latin America
Graphic Organizer 7 Organizing Information Create a diagram
like this one and then list two facts thatexplain the large population of central Mexico
Applying Social Studies Skills
8 Analyzing Diagrams Study Mexicorsquos altitudezones on page 193 At which elevation do youthink most people live Why do they live here
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 7804 342 AM Page 195
TWIP-195
null
111070854
A map that shows the different heights ofthe land is called a physical map Physicalmaps use colors and shading to showreliefmdashor how flat or rugged the land surfaceis Colors are also used to show the landrsquoselevationmdashor height above sea level Greenoften shows the lowest elevations (closestto sea level) Yellows oranges browns andreds usually mean higher elevations Some-times the highest areas such as mountainpeaks are white
Learning the Skill To read a physical map apply these steps
bull Read the map title to identify the regionshown on the map
bull Use the map key to find the meaning of colors and symbols
bull Identify the areas of highest and lowest elevation on the map
bull Find important physical features includingmountains rivers and coastlines
bull Mentally map the actual shape of the land
Practicing the Skill Look at the map to answer the following
1 What country is shown on the map 2 What mountain ranges are labeled 3 What is the elevation of the green areas
on the map (in feet and meters)
4 What color on the map means2000ndash5000 feet (600ndash1500 m)
5 Briefly describe the physical landscapeof the area shown on the map movingfrom west to east
196 CHAPTER 6
Reading a Physical Map
500
5000 mi
0 kmAlbers Conic Equal-Area projection
N
S
EW
30degN
20degN
100degW110degW 90degW
Gulf of
Mexico
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Bay of
Campeche
Rio
Grand
e
Rio Balsas
Sierra
Madre
Occidental
Baja
Californ
ia
Sie
rraM
adre
Oriental Yucatacutean
Peninsula
Sierra Madre del Sur
Isthmus ofTehuantepec
Bolsacuteon deMapimi
Pico de Orizaba18855 ft(5747 m)
Plateauof
Mexico
Gulf
Coastal
Plain
Iztacciacutehuatl17343 ft(5286 m)
Popocatacuteepetl17802 ft(5426 m)
U N I T E D S T A T E S
MEXICO
CENTRALAMERICA
MexicoCity
MexicoPhysical
Applying the Skill
Look at the physical map of Latin Americaon page 180 Describe the physical landscapeof the region moving from east to west
Practice key skills with GlencoeSkillbuilder Interactive Workbook Level 1
National boundaryMountain peak
Feet10000
500020001000
0
Meters300015006003000
Elevations
188-196 U3 CH06 S1 TWIP-860976 32404 1141 PM Page 196
The first people to arrive in Mexico were the ancestors of todayrsquosNative Americans Mexicorsquos Native American heritage has shaped thecountryrsquos culture So has Mexicorsquos European heritage brought by theSpaniards who conquered the area in the 1500s
Native American CivilizationsNative Americans came to Mexico thousands of years ago
From about 1200 BC to the AD 1500s these people built a series ofbrilliant highly advanced civilizations on Mexican soil Of these theOlmec Mayan and Aztec civilizations are the best-known Look at themap on page 198 to see where the Olmec Mayan and Aztec civiliza-tions thrived
The Olmecs The Olmecs built the first civilization in the Americasaround 1200 BC They decorated their cities with large carved stonestatues some standing about 10 feet (3 m) high and weighing over 20 tons (18 t)They also carved smaller and more personal objects likejewelry out of jade a local shiny stone that comes in many shades of
197
22
Ethnic InfluenceGroups on Mexican
Culture
Native Americans
Europeans
Guide to Reading
Main Idea
Mexicorsquos culturereflects a blend of itsNative American andSpanish past
Terms to Know
bull jadebull obsidianbull maizebull hieroglyphicsbull muralbull hacienda
Reading Strategy
Create a chart like thisone and then provideone example of howNative Americans andEuropeans influencedMexican culture
Thousands of people visit an ancient
temple in Mexicorsquos Yucataacuten
Peninsula on the spring and
fall equinoxes On those
two days the setting sun
casts a shadow on the
stairs of the templersquos
north face The area
that is not shadowed
looks like the ancient
Native American god
called Kukulcan or the
Feathered Serpent going
down the temple stairs
197-201 U3 CH06 S2 TWIP-860976 32404 1157 PM Page 197
TWIP-197
null
11629507
green as well as other colorsAll these items were carved with obsidiana hard black glass created by the volcanoes in the area Obsidian wasused because the Olmecs had no metals
The Olmecs were the first to grow maize or corn to feed theirmany people In addition to cities and ceremonial centers they builtlarge drainage systems to direct rainwater away from their fields andsettlementsThe Olmecs lasted longer than any other Native Americancivilization finally disappearing about 400 BC
The Maya The people called the Maya lived in the rain forests of theYucataacuten Peninsula and surrounding areas from about AD 250 to 900Religion held Mayan society together Mayan priests needed to measuretime accurately to hold religious ceremonies at the correct momentThey studied the heavens and developed a calendar of 365 days
The Maya built huge stone temples in the shape of pyramids withstepsOne of these structures the temple of Kukulcan showed carefulplanning Each side of Kukulcan had 91 steps totaling 364 The plat-form at the templersquos top made one more step for a grand total of 365mdashjust like the days in the year
The Maya also developed hieroglyphics a form of writing that usessigns and symbols They had a complex number system Artists deco-rated temples and tombs with elaborate murals or wall paintings
Around AD 900 Mayan civilization declined Why Historians donot knowSome suggest that the Maya overused the land and could notgrow enough food Others suggest that warfare or the spread of dis-ease caused their decline The Maya did not disappear however Theirdescendants still live in the same area and speak the Mayan language
N
S
EW
5000 mi
5000 kmAlbers Conic Equal-Area projection
90degW100degW110degW
120degW
TROPIC OF CANCER
20degN
30degN
G u l f o f M e x i c o
PA C I F I C
O C E A N
Bay of
Campeche
Gu
lf
of
California
Caribbean
Sea
NORTHAMERICA
CentralPlateau
CENTRALAMERICA
SierraM
adre
Or ienta l
S ie r r aM
ad r eO
cc iden t a l
Tenochtitlacutean
Teotihuacacutean
Chichacuteen Itzacutea
Tikal
Copacutean
Applying Map Skills
Mayan land (AD 250ndash900)
Olmec land (1200ndash400 BC)
Aztec land (AD 1200ndash1521)
City
Present-day boundary
Mexicorsquos Native American Civilizations
1 Which civilization livedmostly on the YucataacutenPeninsula
2 What was the chief city of the Aztec civilization
Find NGS online map resources wwwnationalgeographiccommaps
197-201 U3 CH06 S2 TWIP-860976 32404 1147 PM Page 198
TWIP-198
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13781985
Mexico 199
The Aztec Around AD 1200 a peoplecalled the Mexica moved into central Mexicofrom the northThe Spanish later called thesepeople the Aztec The Aztec conquered alarge empire in central MexicoTheir capitalTenochtitlaacuten (taybullNAWCHbullteetbullLAHN) wasmagnificentMexico CitymdashMexicorsquos capitalmdashstands on this ancient site today
Tenochtitlaacuten was originally built on twoislands in the middle of Lake Texcoco Longdikes connected it to landThe city had hugestepped pyramids Merchants traded goldsilver and pottery in busy marketplacesFarmers grew their crops in structures calledldquofloating gardensrdquo or rafts filled with mudThe rafts eventually sank to the lake bottomand piled up forming fertile islands
The Aztec people and many of their tra-ditions survive today in Mexico The foodcrafts and language of Mexico have roots inAztec culture Even the name of the countrycomes from the word the Aztec called themselvesmdashthe Mexica Theflag of modern Mexico honors this ancient civilization In the centerof the flag is the Aztec symbol of an eagle with a snake in its beak
What Native American cultures flourished in Mexico
Spanish MexicoIn 1519 Mexicorsquos history changed dramatically A Spanish army led
by Hernaacuten Corteacutes landed on Mexicorsquos Gulf coastHe and about 600 sol-diers marched to Tenochtitlaacuten which they heard was filled with goldSome Native Americans who opposed the harsh rule of the Aztecsigned treaties with the Spanish and joined them The Spanish hadswords muskets cannons and horses This enabled them to defeat theAztec Empirewhich contained about 6 million peoplewithin two years
Spain made Mexico a colony or an overseas territory becauseMexicorsquos rocky land held rich deposits of gold and silverMany Spanishsettlers came to live in Mexico Some raised cattle on large ranchescalled haciendas (ahbullseebullEHNbullduhs) Others started gold and silverminesThe Spaniards made Native Americans work on the ranches andin the mines Thousands of Native Americans died from mistreatmentMany thousands more died of diseases such as the common cold andsmallpox which they caught from Europeans Spanish priests came toMexico and in their own way tried to improve the lives of NativeAmericans Because of their work many Native Americans acceptedthe priestsrsquo teachings Today about 90 percent of Mexicorsquos people fol-low the Roman Catholic religion
Why was Mexico a valuable colony for Spain
On Location
Teotihuacaacuten
bull
Hundreds of yearsbefore the appear-ance of the Aztec orthe Spanish NativeAmericans built mon-uments such as theTemple of the Sun inthe city of Teotihua-caacuten Teotihuacaacuten waslocated near what isnow Mexico City
History How was thesmall Spanish armyable to defeat theAztec
197-201 U3 CH06 S2 TWIP-860976 7804 344 AM Page 199
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18097836
200 CHAPTER 6
AssessmentAssessment22Defining Terms1 Define jade obsidian maize hieroglyphics
mural hacienda
Recalling Facts2 History Describe three achievements of the
ancient Maya
3 History Which European country conqueredand colonized Mexico
4 History What were Emiliano Zapatarsquos goals
Critical Thinking5 Sequencing Information Put the
following events in the correct chronologi-cal order Corteacutes conquers the AztecMexico wins independence from Spain theMexica move into central Mexico Zapataleads a revolution
6 Understanding Cause and Effect How didthe arrival of Europeans affect the NativeAmericans in Mexico
Graphic Organizer7 Organizing Information Create a chart like
this one In each column list the major advance-ments of each civilization
Applying Social Studies Skills
8 Analyzing Maps Refer to the map of MexicorsquosNative American civilizations on page 198WhichNative American group settled the farthest south
Olmec Maya Aztec
Social StudiesSocial StudiesSocial StudiesSocial Studies
Web Activity VisitThe World and ItsPeople Web site at
andclick on Chapter 6mdashStudent WebActivities to learnmore about Mexicorsquoshistory
twipglencoecom
Independence and RevolutionThe people of Mexico resented Spanish rule In 1810 they rallied
behind a Catholic priestMiguel HidalgoHe led an army of peasants inrevolt Spanish officials brought charges against Hidalgo and executedhim but the rebellion did not stop Mexicans won their independencefrom Spain in 1821 In 1824 they set up a republic with an electedpresident
Soon after independence Mexico lost some valuable territoryMexicorsquos northern province of Texas fought for and won its own inde-pendence from Mexico and asked to join the United States In 1846 theUnited States fought Mexico in a dispute over the southern boundaryof Texas In the treaty ending the war Mexico gave up its claims toTexas Mexico lost other valuable territory to the United States thatincluded what are today the states of California Utah and Nevada
For many decades rich families army officers and Catholic Churchleaders held most of the power and wealth in MexicoIn 1910 Mexicanpeasants revolted Emiliano Zapata who commanded a rebel armystated the goals of this revolution He wanted to give to the poor ldquothelands woods and water that the landlords or bosses have taken fromusrdquo Zapatarsquos forces seized many large haciendas and divided the landamong the poor In Mexicorsquos northwest area Francisco ldquoPanchordquo Villaalso tried to help the poor mostly Native American peasants
Who led the 1910 revolution in Mexico
197-201 U3 CH06 S2 TWIP-860976 32404 1148 PM Page 200
TWIP-200
null
11295157
The Aztec Calendar StoneIt is hard to imagine how a huge stone
filled with carved figures can serve as a cal-endar Known commonly as the Sun Stonethe Aztec calendar is full of both scientificand religious information
History
In 1790 workers in the heart of the zoacutecaloor main square of Mexico City uncovered a mas-sive circular stone Mexico City sits on top ofTenochtitlaacuten the ancient capital of the AztecEmpire Some 300 years earlier the Aztec atTenochtitlaacuten had carved the 25-ton (23-t) basaltrock calendar Using stone tools they created amonument that measured 12 feet (36 m) indiameter and 3 feet (09 m) thick
The face of the Aztec sun god appears at thecenter of the calendar stone The sun god wasthought to be one of the most important Aztec
gods Seven rings surround the sun god In theclosest ring are four squarelike spaces each witha symbol that represents the four past ages of theworldmdashthe time that existed before humansappeared Circling these symbols is a ring withsigns representing the 20 days of the Aztecmonth
Meaning of the Calendar
The Aztec calendar stone is actually two cal-endars in one One calendar is a religious calen-dar based on a 260-day cycle The Aztec believedthat their lives depended on fulfilling their godsrsquodemands The calendar told Aztec priests whento make offerings and hold rituals for each god Italso divided the days among the gods Accordingto the Aztec view this kept the universe in bal-ance An imbalance could lead to a power strug-gle among the gods and bring about the end ofthe world
The second calendar is an agricultural calen-dar based on a 365-day solar cycle The Aztecwere very efficient farmers They used this calen-dar to keep track of the seasons and ceremoniesrelated to agricultural cycles
ARTART SCIENCESCIENCE CULTURECULTURE TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY
Mexico 201
+ Today the Aztec calendar stone is displayed in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City
1 What does the Aztec agricultural calendar revealabout the scientific understanding of the Aztec
2 Why was it important for the Aztec to divide thedays among the gods
3 Making Comparisons How do the two calendarsystems of the Aztec differ
197-201 U3 CH06 S2 TWIP-860976 32404 1148 PM Page 201
TWIP-201
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15401736
202 CHAPTER 6
33
MexicanCulture
Mexican art reveals the pride that the
people take in their rich heritage
The people of Taxco (TAHSbull
koh) call their city the ldquosilver
capital of the worldrdquo
Though the nearby hills
no longer hold any sil-
ver the city remains a
home to craftspeople
who make silver jew-
elry cups and trays
Here a designer and
silversmith examine a
new pitcher design
Mexicomdashthe third-largest country in area in Latin America afterBrazil and Argentinamdashhas a large and dynamic population About 75percent of all Mexicans live in the countryrsquos bustling cities
Mexicorsquos Cities and VillagesIn the center of Mexicorsquos citiesyou often find large plazas or pub-
lic squares Around each cityrsquos plaza stand important buildings such asa church and a government center When you look at the buildingsyou can see the architectural style of Spanish colonial times Newersections of the cities have a mix of towering glass office buildings andmodern houses In the poorer sections of town people build smallhomes out of whatever materials they can find These materials mayinclude boards sheet metal or even cardboard
Rural villages also have central plazas Streets lead from the plazasto residential areas Many homes are made of adobe (uhbullDOHbullbee)or sun-dried clay bricks The roofs might be made of straw or of col-ored tile in the Spanish style
What do you find in the center of Mexicorsquos cities and villages
Guide to Reading
Main Idea
Mexicans enjoy a richand lively culture butface many seriouschallenges
Terms to Know
bull plazabull adobebull federal republicbull migrant workerbull national debt bull smog
Reading Strategy
Create a diagram likethis one In each of the smaller ovals writea feature of Mexicanculture Add as manysmaller ovals as youneed
202-206 U3 CH06 S3 TWIP-860976 32504 1202 AM Page 202
TWIP-202
null
11404865
Mexico 203
Mexico Through the Centuries
Mexican CultureMexican artists and writers have created many national treasures
In the early 1900s Mexican painters produced beautiful muralsmdashjustas Native American painters had done centuries before Among themost famous of these mural painters were Joseacute Clemente OrozcoDavid Alfero Sequieros and Diego Rivera Riverarsquos wife Frida Kahlobecame well-known for her paintings which revealed her inner feel-ings Modern writers such as Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz havewritten poems and stories that reflect the values of Mexicorsquos people
Food If you have tasted Mexican food you know that it is a richblend of flavors Cornmdashfirst grown in Mexicomdashcontinues to be animportant part of the Mexican diet Chocolate tomatoes beanssquash and chilies were all Native American foods as well When theSpanish came they brought beef chicken cheese and olive oil whichMexicans added to their cooking
Today Mexicans use these different cooking traditions in popularfoods such as tacos and enchiladas Both dishes combine a flat breadcalled a tortilla with meat or beansvegetablescheeseand spicy chilies
Celebrations Throughout the year Mexicans enjoy celebrationscalled fiestas (feebullEHSbulltuhs) These special days include parades fire-worksmusicand dancingMariachi (MAHRbulleebullAHbullchee) bands may playsuch traditional instruments as the violinguitarhornand bass at fiestasMore likely thoughyou will hear the fast-paced rhythms and singing ofLatino bands which have influenced the United States
National holidays include Independence Day (September 16) andCinco de Mayo (May 5) Cinco de Mayo celebrates the day in 1862 thatMexicans defeated an invading French army in battle November 2 is a
ArtMexican artist Diego Rivera is one of the
most famous mural painters of the twentiethcentury He believed that art belonged to thepeople In Mexico City Riverarsquos murals line thecourtyard of the Ministry of Education buildingand cover the walls of the National Palace Withtheir characteristically vivid colors and distinc-tive style Riverarsquos murals tell the story of thework culture and history of the Mexican people
Looking Closer How did Riverarsquos work supporthis belief that art belongs to the people
202-206 U3 CH06 S3 TWIP-860976 32504 1202 AM Page 203
TWIP-203
null
13332635
204 CHAPTER 6
special religious celebration called theldquoDay of the Deadrdquo On this day familiesgather in cemeteries where they honortheir departed loved ones by layingdown food and flowers
What are some importantcelebrations in Mexico
MexicorsquosGovernment
Mexico like the United States is afederal republic where power isdivided between national and state governments A strong president leadsthe national government Mexicorsquosnational government differs in that it hasmuch more power than the state gov-ernments The president of Mexico ishead of the executive branch of govern-ment He or she can serve only one six-year term but has more power than thelegislative and judicial branches
For many decades one political party called the Party ofInstitutional Revolution (PRI) led Mexico All the presidents and mostother elected officials came from this party In recent years economictroubles and the peoplersquos lack of political power led to growing frus-tration In the year 2000 the newly elected president of MexicoVicente Fox came from a different political partymdashfor the first time inmore than 70 years
Mexicorsquos government faces many difficult challenges People inMexico are demanding more political freedom to make decisions thataffect their everyday lives Traffic in illegal drugs is of concern to thegovernment as well Nearly 40 percent of Mexicorsquos 100 million peoplelive below the poverty line To fight the countryrsquos pressing problemsfrom poverty to drugs a strong central government is needed Toincrease democracy in Mexico however Fox must give power back tolocal and state agencies Fox will have to help his country find the bal-ance between these two levels of government
What form of government does Mexico have
Mexicorsquos ChallengesMexico has tried to use its resources to improve the lives of its
people These actions have had strong effects on Mexican lifemdashandhave created some challenges for the future
Population Mexicorsquos population has increased rapidly in recentdecades Because many people have moved to the cities to find jobsthe cities have grown quickly A large number of people have had to
On Location
bull
Fiestas
On September 16Mexicans have parades to celebratethe women and menwho helped win Mex-ican independence
Culture What is thepurpose of fiestas
202-206 U3 CH06 S3 TWIP-860976 32504 1203 AM Page 204
TWIP-204
null
16117561
Rio
Grand
e
PACIFIC
OCEAN Gulf of Mexico
Bay of
Campeche
Gulf
of
Califo
rnia Monterrey
Tampico
Tijuana
Mexicali
Guadalajara
Leacuteon
Puebla
Acapulco
Macuteerida
Mexico City
Chihuahua
CiudadJuacutearez
CENTRALAMERICA
U N I T E D S T A T E S
110degW
30degN
20degN
100degW 90degW
TROPIC OF CANCER
120degW
Azimuthal Equidistant projection
N
S
EW
300
3000
0
mi
km
Mexico Population Density
Applying Map Skills
205
Sq KmSq MiPersons per
Uninhabited
Under 1
1ndash25
25ndash50
50ndash100
Over 100
Uninhabited
Under 2
2ndash60
60ndash125
125ndash250
Over 250
CitiesCity with more than5000000 people
City with 1000000 to5000000 people
City with 500000 to1000000 people
take jobs that pay low wages As a result hundreds of thousands ofpeople crowd together in slums or poor sections of the cities
Those Mexicans who cannot find any work in their country maybecome migrant workers These are people who travel from placeto place when extra workers are needed to plant or harvest cropsThey legally and sometimes illegally cross Mexicorsquos long border towork in the United States Though the pay is low the migrant workerscan earn more in the United States than in Mexico
Another challenge concerning Mexicorsquos people involves thedescendants of the ancient Maya Indians The present-day Maya live inthe southernmost state of Mexico called Chiapas Turn to the map onpage 191 to see where Chiapas is locatedThis state is one of the poor-est states in Mexico Over 75 percent of the people there live belowthe poverty level Most of the wealth in Chiapas is concentrated in avery small number of ranching families who are of Spanish descentDiseases and illness that result from poverty and lack of health carecause thousands of deaths every year Many Maya are fighting for inde-pendence from the central government because they lost hope in theMexican government
Foreign Debt For decades the Mexican government refused to letforeign companies build factories in Mexico Leaders feared that thecompanies would take their profits to their own country thus draining
1 What is the mostpopulous city in Mexico
2 How does the populationof Chihuahua comparewith that of Monterrey
Find NGS online map resources wwwnationalgeographiccommaps
202-206 U3 CH06 S3 TWIP-860976 32504 1203 AM Page 205
TWIP-205
null
10093587
AssessmentAssessment33
Smog inMexico
City
money out of MexicoIn the 1990s the government changed this policyMexican officials were still concerned that money would be lost buthoped that the new factories would create more jobs for Mexicans
To help its economy grow Mexico borrowed money from foreignbanks The government then had to use any money it earned in taxesto pay back the loansAs a resultMexicorsquos leaders did not have enoughfunds to spend on the Mexican people when the economy began tostruggle Many Mexicans grew angry Yet if the government did notmake the loan payments banks would refuse to lend more money forfuture plans Because there are still loans to be repaid Mexicans willface this situation for many years The problem of repaying a nationaldebt or money owed by the government is one that is being faced bymany countries in the world today
Pollution As Mexicorsquos population boomed its cities grew very largeAt the same time the economy industrialized Both of these changescontributed to rising pollution in Mexico
The mountains that surround Mexico City trap the exhaust fumesfrom hundreds of thousands of cars People in this city wake each dayto a thick haze of fog and chemicals called smog Many people wearmasks when they leave their homes to go to work or school In north-ern Mexicomany factories release dangerous chemicals into the air orwater One environmental group says that the Rio Grande is now oneof the most polluted rivers in North America
What challenges does Mexico face
Defining Terms1 Define plaza adobe federal republic migrant
worker national debt smog
Recalling Facts2 Culture What percentage of Mexicorsquos popula-
tion lives in urban areas
3 Government Explain how Mexicorsquos govern-ment is similar to the government of theUnited States How is it different
4 Government Why did Mexicorsquos governmentrefuse to allow foreign factories in Mexico
Critical Thinking5 Analyzing Information What has
resulted from the Mexican governmentrsquospolicy of borrowing from foreign banks
6 Summarizing Information What prob-lems have resulted from Mexicorsquos expand-ing population
Graphic Organizer7 Organizing Information Create a diagram
like this one On the arrows list three factorsthat have led to the smog problem of MexicoCity Be sure to consider physical characteristicsof the area when listing the factors
Applying Social Studies Skills
8 Analyzing Maps Look at the population den-sity map on page 205 What is the population ofGuadalajara What is the population density ofthe area surrounding Meacuterida
202-206 U3 CH06 S3 TWIP-860976 32504 1203 AM Page 206
TWIP-206
null
118019066
Chapter
66
Terms to Know land bridge peninsula latitude altitude hurricane vaquero maquiladora subsistence farm plantation industrializeservice industry
Main Idea Mexicorsquos mountainous landscape and varied climate create differenteconomic regions Location Mexico is part of a land bridge that connects North and South
AmericaLocation Much of Mexico lies in the Tropics but the climate in some areas is
cool because of high elevationEconomics Landforms and climate combine to create three economic zones
in MexicoMovement Mexicorsquos economy is growing and many people are moving to
the northern cities
Section 1 Mexicorsquos Land and EconomySection 1
Reading ReviewReading Review
Mexico 207
Mexicorsquos HistoryTerms to Know jade obsidian maize hieroglyphics mural hacienda
Main Idea Mexicorsquos culture reflects a blend of its Native American and Spanishpast History Mexicorsquos Native American civilizationsmdashthe Olmec Maya and
Aztecmdashmade many contributions to Mexicorsquos cultureCulture Mexicorsquos people reflect the countryrsquos Native American and
Spanish rootsHistory The Spanish ruled Mexico from the 1500s to 1821 when Mexico
won its independenceHistory The poor people in Mexico revolted against the rich and powerful
church and military leaders in 1910
Section 2Section 2
Mexico TodayTerms to Know plaza adobefederal republicmigrant workernational debt smog
Main Idea Mexicans enjoy a rich and lively culture but face many serious challenges Location About 75 percent of Mexicans live in cities todayCulture Mexicans enjoy celebrations called fiestas which can include
parades fireworks and musicGovernment Mexicorsquos government is a federal republicEconomics Challenges facing Mexico include problems caused by popula-
tion growth foreign investment and debt and pollution
Section 3Section 3
207-209 U3 CH06 RR TWIP-860976 32504 1210 AM Page 207
Chapter
66Assessment
and ActivitiesAssessment
and Activities
208 CHAPTER 6
A1 altitude
2 hurricane
3 vaquero
4 maquiladora
5 jade
6 adobe
7 plaza
8 smog
9 mural
10 subsistence farm
Ba factory that assembles
parts from other countries
b cowhand
c sun-dried clay bricks
d wall painting
e height above sea level
f fog mixed with smoke
g produces only enoughto support a familyrsquosneeds
h fierce tropical storm
i public square
j shiny stone that comesin many shades ofgreen
1 Pacific Ocean
2 Mexico City
3 Plateau of Mexico
4 Yucataacuten Peninsula
5 Baja California
6 Rio Grande
7 Gulf of Mexico
8 Guadalajara
9 Monterrey
10 Caribbean Sea
Mexico
B
JF
A
C
E
IH
G
D
Azimuthal Equidistant projection300
3000 mi
0 km
N
S
EW
Place Location ActivityOn a separate sheet of papermatch the letters on the map withthe numbered places listed below
Using Key Terms Match the terms in Part A with their definitions in Part B
Reviewing the Main Ideas Section 1 Mexicorsquos Land and Economy 11 Location How does Mexicorsquos latitude
affect its climate 12 Economics What are Mexicorsquos major
exports13 Movement How have maquiladoras
affected northern Mexicorsquos cities
Section 2 Mexicorsquos History14 History What was the capital city of the
Aztec civilization 15 History What effects did Spanish con-
quest have on Native Americans 16 History When did Mexico win its inde-
pendence from Spain
Section 3 Mexico Today17 Government What are people in
Mexico demanding from the Mexican government
18 Culture What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate
207-209 U3 CH06 RR TWIP-860976 32504 1211 AM Page 208
209
Social StudiesSocial StudiesSocial StudiesSocial Studies
Self-Check Quiz Visit The World and ItsPeople Web site at twipglencoecom andclick on Chapter 6mdashSelf-Check Quizzesto prepare for the Chapter Test
Standardized Test PracticeDirections Read the paragraph below andthen answer the question that follows
The Aztec civilization was organized intoclasses At the top was the emperor Hispower came from his control of the armyand the religious beliefs of the people Nextcame the nobles followed by commonersCommoners included priests merchants andartists Below commoners were the serfs orworkers who farmed the noblesrsquo fieldsSlaves the lowest class included criminalsand people in debt as well as female andchild prisoners of war Male prisoners of warwere sacrificed to the Aztec gods The Aztecbelieved that live human sacrifices wereneeded to keep the gods pleased and to pre-vent floods and other disasters
1 Which of the following statements is anopinion about the information givenabove F The Aztec civilization was organized
into classes G Male prisoners of war were sacrificed to
the Aztec gods H Slaves included children J The Aztec should not have sacrificed
people to the gods
Test-Taking Tip This question asks youto identify an opinion An opinion is a per-sonrsquos belief It is not a proven fact (such asanswer F) Opinions often contain subjec-tive words such as easier best or should
H
Critical Thinking 19 Understanding Cause and Effect Why
have Mexicorsquos leaders encouraged free tradeagreements with other countries
20 Problem Solving If you were Mexicorsquospresident what would you do to rid Mexicoof the problems of illegal drugs and poverty
Comparing Regions Activity21 Culture People from different regions may
have different ways of measuring time TheAztec Stone for example was both a reli-gious and an agricultural calendar Comparethe Aztec Stone to another regionrsquos calendarthat is no longer in use such as the ancientEgyptian or Roman calendar How are theyalike How are they different
Mental Mapping Activity22 Focusing on the Region Create a
simple outline map of Mexico Refer to the physical map on page 196 and then labelthe following
bull Pacific Ocean bull Gulf of Mexico bull Yucataacuten Peninsula bull Baja California bull Mexico City bull Rio Grande bull Sierra Madre Occidental
Technology Skills Activity23 Developing a Multimedia Presentation
Imagine that you work for MexicorsquosEconomic Development Office Create amultimedia presentation to present to agroup of foreign investors Use a softwareapplication such as PowerPointreg to show-case positive features like climate resourcesand labor supply Your goal is to showinvestors that Mexico is a good place forthem to invest their money
207-209 U3 CH06 RR TWIP-860976 32504 1211 AM Page 209
