C2 Culture

Mexico 

• Population: 121 mil

• Area: 1.9 mil km²

  • 1/15 of the US 

  • 3x size of Texas

• Capital: Federal District 

  • Population: 21 mil

• Major Cities

  • Guadalajara (4.8 mil)

  • Monterrey (4.5 mil)

  • Puebla (3.0 mil)

  • Tijuana (2.0 mil)

• Currency: Peso

• Languages: Spanish, indigenous languages (e.g. maya)

Lugares Mágicos Chiapas 

• State in southern Mexico

• Has jungles, volcanic mountains, rivers, Mayan ruins

• Palenque is city built by the Mayans between 200 and 600 AD 

• The royal family composed of Pakal the Great, his son K’inich Kan Bahlam, and grandson Akul Mo’ Naab decided to make Temple XIX and temple of the Inscriptions places to narrate 200 years of Mayan history through drawings and hieroglyphics 

  • One of the most visited archaeological sites today

Mayan culture 

• Indigenous groups that lived in the region of Mexico for more than 4000 years

  • Olmecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Mayans, and Aztecs

• Women are very important to the family economy because they prepare meals for family and religious celebrations, work in pottery, and take care of children and animals

• Parents decide on marriage to gain greater economic and political power within society

• Husbands live under the orders of father-in-law for up to 5 years

Visual Arts

• Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are one of the most famous married couples in Mexican art 

• Kahlo’s art is personal and autobiographical with elements of fantasy 

• Rivera’s art is political and depicts the struggle of the working people

• Lived in Coyoacán, Mexico City 

  • Now a museum called “the Blue House”

  • Displays works by both of them as well as 59,400 pieces from pre-Hispanic cultures

Rhythms and Music

• Musician group Maná is internationally recognized 

  • Means "positive energy” in Polynesian

• Rock band formed in 1987

  • Founded by the Caballeros brothers, Juan and Ulises, and friends Fher Olvera and Alex González

• Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 

• Latest album in 2011 is Drama y Luz 

  • Their popular song is “Latinoamérica”