Introduction
Colonial Mexico
In Unit 2, we learned about the conquest of Mexico through the eyes of Hernan Cortes (a Spanish Explorer), La Malinche (an Aztec woman and Cortes' mistress), and Montezuma II (The last king of the Aztecs). After Cortes established Spain's dominance over the Aztecs, New Spain (Mexico was renamed this by Cortes) became one of the largest and most important colonies in the New World. More importantly, the social, political, cultural, interactions with the environment, and economic conditions in New Spain changed. Unfortunately, as we have learned by studying the Haitian and French Revolutions, the European colonizers (Spanish) were the ones who benefitted from these changes.
Task
THE TASK
Over the next couple of days you will explore the social, political, interactions with the environment, cultural, and economic impact of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico.
Image: Pinturas de Casta (Caste Paintings), Espanol con Mestiza, castiza (Spanish Man and Mixed Woman create a Caste)
Process
The Process
Social
Use the link to learn more about the Caste System in Mexico. In the graphic organizer, write a brief description of what the Caste System in Mexico was, and how it affected colonial Mexicans.
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/fulano_de_tal/2011/nov/04/the-mexican-caste-system/#
Click here to see some of the Casta paintings
Political, Interactions with the Environment, Cultural, and Economic
Use the link to learn more about the political, IE, cultural and economic conditions in colonial Mexico. BEGIN READING UNDER THE HEADING "THE COLONIAL PERIOD" (page 2), then record your information in your graphic organizer.
https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/images/stories/PDF/Meet_Mexico/9_meetmexico-colonialmexico.pdf
Image: La Catedral de Cordoba (The Cathedral in Cordoba, Mexico)
Evaluation
Make an Inference
Despite all of its wealth, New Spain will not evade the call for "Revolution". Just like in France and Haiti, conditions will combine to create tensions, and those tensions will turn into war.
Click on the link below and give an answer to the short answer questions in the google form. Remember these are inferences based on what we know about colonial Mexico and Revolutions in general. When you are finished submit your answers.
https://forms.gle/oc3Cru3ZRoEpqh7X6
Image: El Grito de Dolores (The Cry of Delores (Call for Mexican Independence)