Mexico

Lesson 2: Creating a Mexican Culture

Essential Question:

How would you compare and contrast Mexico’s major cultural groups?

Do Now

In your notebook, define the following vocabulary words. Civilization InnovationMissionary

civilization

• A culture that has a complex economic, governing, and social system.

• More advanced in technology

innovation

• New ways of doing things.

missionary Religious teachers that came to

Mexico to teach the Roman Catholic religion.

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? Turn to page 177. (Section on DVD) Read along with the narrator as he reads

about the Olmec Civilization. Assignment: Create an outline of the

Olmec Civilization

Mexican States

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico?

A. Settlement1. First settled along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico2. 1200 B.C. lived along the coastal rivers in villages in small houses made of

reeds and strawB. Farming Society

1. Fished in the rivers and farmed land 2. seasonal flooding watered crops and made the soil rich

I. Olmec Civilization

C. Religion

1. based on the forces of nature that affected

crops, artwork and carvings were used for

religious purposes.

2. worshipped many different gods

a. most important god, Jaguar, the rain god.

3. Villages became centers of religion and great

temples were made of huge stones for

worship.

Check your work from yesterday.

D. Innovation1. created a calendar2. used a form of picture writing3. carvings and artwork4. religious centers5. architecture6. technology

E. Spreading of Culture1. interacted with others through trade2. Maya and Aztec culture added to the Olmec innovations.3. referred to mother civilization

Who were the early civilizations in Mexico? Video- The Maya and the Aztecs Read about the Maya on page 178. Create an outline of the most important

information.

II. The MayaA. Settlement and Farming

1. farming culture in the rainforest of what are now Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and southern Mexico

2. 500 BC started to clear the forest to farm more land and build cities.

3. Built more than 100 cities

B. Tikal was the largest Mayan City1. population 100, 000 people2. located on the Yucatan

Peninsula in what is now Guatemala

3. six large temples, shaped like a pyramid Jaguar carved on top.

C. Innovations1. created a 365 day calendar2. created a number system including zero3. used picture writing

D. History1. lasted more than 600 years2. by 900 AD some Mayan cities were left empty reclaimed by the surrounding rain forest3. Mayan culture has contributed to

the later civilization of Mexico

Video: The Maya and the Aztecs

Read Page 179- The Aztecs

Complete the Outline on the Aztecs in your Lesson Packet

III. The AztecsA. Settlement

1. AD 12002. Settled in the Valley of Mexico3. They built well organized cities with large buildings

B. Tenochtitlan (Present day Mexico City) 1. Largest Aztec city2. By 1400 AD the population was more than 300,0003. Empire covered what is now central and

southern Mexico C. Aztec Life

1. Empire included 5 million people2. daily trips to the market to trade3. Nahuatl language4. foods- tortillas

Compare and Contrast

Think- Why do we write compare and contrast essays.

Purpose for Writing• The comparison or contrast should make a point or serve a purpose. Often such essays do one of

the following:

1) Clarify something unknown or not well �understood.

2) Lead to a fresh insight or new way of viewing �something.

3) Bring one or both of the subjects into sharper �focus.

4) Show that one subject is better than the other.�

How were the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec Indians similar and different? We are going to do a compare and contrast of

the Mayas and the Aztecs. In addition to the information in the handout, you

may reference your completed outlines from your lesson packets.

Read the information on handout Use the graphic organizer to organize the

content of your essay.

Rubric

..\..\..\Social Studies\Chapter 5 Mexico\compare and contrast rubric.doc

How do I write a compare and contrast?

Introduction Similarities

Differences Conclusion

Introduction Grab the attention of your audience. Tell the audience who, or what you are going to

compare. Explain the purpose (compare and contrast) of

your writing.

Write a rough draft of your introduction on a piece of paper.

Share your introduction with a neighbor. Partners, give each other recommendations about your partner’s introduction.

Introduction

In the following paragraphs, you are going to learn about the culture and history of the Maya and Aztecs civilizations in Mexico and South America. We will be discussing various similarities and differences about the two civilizations.

How do I write a compare and contrast? Using, your 4 square, write your rough

draft.

Similarities

There are many similarities between the Maya and the Aztecs. Both groups of people invented a calendar. They also both played a game similar to soccer. The Maya and the Aztecs made sacrifices to appease their Gods.

Differences

There are many differences between the Maya and the Aztecs. For example, the Maya introduced a 365 day calendar unlike the Aztecs which created a 360 day calendar.

Good Words for Compare and Contrast To indicate more Information:Besides MoreoverFurthermore In FactIndeedSecond…Third….etc

To indicate an example:For example For instanceIn particularParticularlySpecificallyTo demonstrate or illustrate

To compare or In ComparisonLikewiseSimilarly

Contrast:Although WhereasHowever YetIn contrastNeverthelessOn the other hand

Examples

The Mayan and the Aztec both invented calendars, however the Mayan calendar had 365 days and the Aztec calendar was 360 days.

Both civilizations were in Mexico although the Aztec civilization was located more in the central part of the country and the Mayans were on the Yucatan.

In addition to farming they both relied on trading for goods at market.

Compare and Contrast Paper

Paper must be at least 41)Introduction2-3) Body (Similarities and Differences)4) Conclusion

Conclusion

Conclude your paper by wrapping up the purpose of your paper.

Summarization Activity

Name the three early civilizations in Mexico and give at least two facts about each civilization.