Travel Journal
By Seth Randell
Mexico
Climate/ Geography
· Paricutin, and other volcanoes are scattered throughout Mexico because, the country sits where three plates from the earth’s crust collide.
· The movement of these plates underground can cause disastrous damage on ground.
· Mexico forms part of a land bridge, or narrow strip of land that joins two larger landmasses.
· Mexico also creates an important border that creates the border between two important countries the U.S. and Mexico.
· Cultural Geo-Graphers think of Mexico as being part of Latin America
· And as other cultural geographers, language, customs, religion, and history are important areas of study.
· Mexico has many different climates.
· Due to Mexico’s location being fairly close to the equator it has a warmer climate.
· Also with the tropic of cancer cutting through the center of Mexico it would mark the northern edge of the tropics.
· Areas south of that line have warmer temperatures throughout the year.
· Areas north of this line are warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter.
Culture/ People
· Many Mexican Artists have created many national treasures.
· In the early 1900s, Mexican painters, Produced beautiful murals Just as Native American painters had done centuries ago.
· If you have ever tasted Mexican food you would be able to taste the rich blend of flavors in the food.
· Chocolate, tomatoes, beans, squash, and chilies were all Native American foods as well.
· When the Spanish had arrived in Mexico they had brought beef, chicken, cheese, and olive oil which Mexicans had added to their cooking.
· Throughout their years Mexicans have celebrations they call fiestas, these days include parades, fireworks, Mariachis which are bands that play enjoyable music.
· Mexico is the third largest country in the Latin area after Brazil, and Argentina.
· Mexico has a large dynamic population.
· About 75 percent of all Mexicans Live in the country’s busiest cities.
· In the center of Mexico City’s you would find plazas or public squares.
· Many homes in Mexico are made of Adobe.
Government
· Mexico, like the United States is a Federal Republic, of power is divided between national and state governments, and a strong president leads the government.
· Mexico’s government defers that it has much more power and state governments.
· The president of Mexico is the head of the executive branch.
· The president of Mexico can only serve a six year term but has more control over the legislative and judicial branch.
· For many decades a political party, called the party of institutional revolution, led Mexico. All of the president’s, and other elected officials had come from his political party.
· In recent years economic troubles and the people’s lack of political power led to growing frustration in Mexico.
· In 2000, the newly elected of Mexico, Vicente Fox, came from a different political party.
· Mexico’s government faces many different challenges. People in Mexico are demanding more political freedom to make decisions that affect their everyday lives.
· Nearly 40% of Mexico’s 100 million people live below the poverty line.
Economy
· With many resources and workers, Mexico has a growing economy.
· Mexico’s economy reigns among the top 15 in the world.
· As in Mexico’s past agriculture is important. Farmers raise food to feed people at home. Corn, beans, wheat, and rice are the main crops grown for food.
· Exports include coffee, cotton fruit, livestock, and tobacco.
· In recent years, Mexico has industrialized, or changed its economy to rely less on farming and more on manufacturing.
· Factories in Mexico now make cars, consumer goods, and steel.
· Mexico has large deposits of petroleum and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico and along the southern coast.
· As a result, Mexico is among the world’s major oil producing nations.
· Mexico is also home to import and Service Industries such as banking in tourism.
· Service Industries, you recall, are businesses that provide services for people.
History
· In 1519 Mexico’s history changed dramatically.
· A Spanish army led by Herman Cortes landed on Mexico’s gulf coast.
· He and about 600 soldiers marched Tenochtitlan, which they had heard was filled with gold.
· The Spanish had made treaties with the Indians this had brought the Spanish thousands warriors.
· The Spanish also had steel weapons and muskets while the Aztec only had wooden weapons.
· Then the Spanish also had horses which were unknown to the Indians until then.
· In fact when Cortes was on his horse the Indians thought he was one creature.
· They had thought that he was one of the most important gods, Quetzalcoatl, and that he had returned to punish them, so of course they were afraid of him.
· Spain had made Mexico a colony, or an overseas territory, because Mexico’s rocky land held rich deposits of gold, and silver.
· Many Spanish settlers came to live in Mexico.
· Some had raised cattle on large ranches called Haciendas.
Reflection- Timeline
· 1500s the Spanish arrived in Mexico
· 1519 Spanish conquer the Aztecs
· 1821 Mexico had rebelled against the Spanish rule and became independent.
· 1824 Mexico became a Republic with an elected president.
· 1862 Cinco De mayo WHEN Mexico fought and won against the French invaders.
· 1910 the peasants had revolted against Emiliano Zapata.
· 1994 U.S., Canada, and Mexico became partners in NAFTA.
Outline-History/ Mexico City
· Mexico City was founded by the Aztecs in the year of 1325.
· Mexico was once called Tenochtitlan.
· Between 1325 and 1521 Tenochtitlan grew in size and strength
· In 1519 Spaniards under Hernan Cortes orders had arrived in what is now Mexico.
· Cortes had learned of the Aztecs political problems and was able to exploit them.
· This had enabled him to eventually conquer Tenochtitlan.
· The Aztec River Montezuma and hung had thought that Cortés was an ancient God Called Quetzalcoatl, Who was predicted to return around that time.
· Friction between The Aztecs and Spaniards had soon erupted this had culminated to the eventual siege and destruction of Tenochtitlan.
Final Copy
May 22nd/1519- The rest of the soldiers and I are preparing for a feast to celebrate our treaty with the Aztecs. It’s about time I can be full for once. Yum!
May 29th/1519- Ever since the treaty with the Aztecs it has gotten a little rough and I can tell already it’s not going to end well.
June 3rd/1519- The Aztecs have gone too far this time! We have a plan though a clever one too! It’s about time we went to siege Tenochtitlan! Fighting is never the answer but I must stay faithful to Sir Cortes.
June 15th/1519- The plans is set and were going to begin the siege tomorrow night. They’ll never see it coming.
June 16th/1519- We are all prepped and ready to siege Tenochtitlan and defeat the Aztecs. We all knew this would eventually happen.
June 19th/1519- We have sieged Tenochtitlan this is great news! Sir Cortes was always right!!!