History Vocab Studying

Olmec

• described as mother civilization

• known for fine and the creation of the pictographs

• developed sophisticated cultivation and techniques for farming

Maya

• built huge stone pyramids

• developed calendar system

• conquered neighboring kingdoms

• still live in Mexico to this day

Aztecs

• built the city of Tenochtitlan

• the ones in charge essentially Aztec Empire

Nahuatl

• Language native people spoke

Tenochitilan

• Capitol of Aztec Empire (Present day Mexico City)

Conquistadors

• Spanish Colonizers

Hernan Cortes

• led the third expedition to Mexico

• led conquered group in the fight against the Aztec Empire

• Captured Moctezuma

Moctezuma II:

• emperor of Mexico died in 1520

New Spain:

• Spanish Vice Royalty

Peninsulares:

• whites born in Spain (held higher status)

Criollos:

• white born in colonies (lower status)

Mestizos:

• a mix for indigenous and European ancestry

New Laws:

• 1542 banned enslavement of Indigenous people in the colonies

Haciendas:

• Estates given to wealthy Spanish by Spanish crown

Miguel Hidalgo:

• Criollo priest - led uprising against Spanish rule - marks Mexican independence day

Jose Maria Morelos

• Mestizo priest - continued the fight

Mexican American War

• Following after the UnitedStates asked Mexico to give up there land included the California area Mexico says no leads to war

• Outmatched Military by US

Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo

• Mexico gave up half its territory to the United States and in return got 15 million