Mexican History Exam 1 || 100% Accurate Answers.
Pre-Columbian world been brought back to life to serve a political purpose in the present day
correct answers 1- Creation of Spanish colonial, political, and economic systems imposed on
existing cultures
2- Mexican national state constructed from New Spain
Soverignty, Territory, and National Settlement correct answers -Mexico extended much further N
than the limits of the Aztec, as did their culture- The capital fell in 1521, but rest of empire had to
be conquered very slowly
-Sp est cities which become centers of expansion for hispanic culture and military expansion
-Enlightenment= push to preserve Mexican history
-Mexican independence 1810-1821 saw Mexico as heir of both Spain and pre-columbian policies
-for Mex nationalists of 19th and 20th ce Axtec inheritance became fundamental to an
understanding of nationhood- Mexico existed before Sp- this thinking used to fend off Fr
intervention
-Fed constitution of 1917 responded to social pressures from peasants and urban workers over
land ownership and rights/conditions of labor
Living with the US correct answers -loss of Tx in 1836 followed by defeat in War and loss of
nearly 1/2 claimed territory
-Mexicans N of redrawn border become 2nd class citizens of a foreign power
-1960 Chicano mvt
-loss of far N confirmed shift in power in N America
-Mexican-US relationship focused on disparities of power and wealth- Mexico is symbollically
an island
-War still fresh in mind because of its connection to 1858-61 Civil War
-19th ce allies as far as Mex concerned but US cont to misunderstand Mexican people/policy
-Mexico join NAFTA in 1993- criticized by left for exposing Mexican ag to US competition
,-border problem- status/condition of migrants- US see border as security issue- border control est
in 1924 and fence in 1994
-US bracero programs 1942-64- Mexicans substitute for absent ag workers during war
Drug trafficking and Money correct answers -3/4 of Cocaine market destined for US markets-
Mexican drug cartels main threat to US
-Mex/US anti-narcotics strategy proved difficult to implement- DEA operate in Mex
-penetration of gangs into politics and security
-murder rate escalates allarmingly through 2000s- specifically journalists- mostly from feuding
between El Chapo gang and the Beltran Leyva bros- kidnapping and extortion increase
-police contracts with organized crime
Higher Profile of the Catholic correct answers -serious conflicts between church and state from
1873-6 and 1926-9
-constituition of 1917 forbade the formation of clerical political parties and confined church to a
limited role in edu only
-Restoration led by Pope John Paul II- 1992 new shrine created for martyrs of the revolution
-Mex church cont to press for religious edu, criticize secular schools, denounce liberal sexual
practices, and inveigh against controversial media
-2002 Pope visits Mex again
-2004- Mexican Primate Cardinal- abortion and birth control worse than drig trafficking-
following outcry to anti clericalism- blamed ills of Mexico on homosexuals, feminists, and other
minorites
-2010- Same sex civil legitimsation center of debate- ruled as a right in 2015 by Supreme Court-
Cardinam Rivera took this to be an attack on Christain doctrine and led a campaign against same
sex
A Perspective on the PResent correct answers -tendency to view Mex in isolation-unnecessary
distortion- post conquest Mex has always been integrated into the wider world in varying degrees
-Mex largely an exception to trends in S Am, wary of Chinese competition in the US market
,-2016- decline in oil $- deepening uncertainty about US relations= currency instability and
investor reticense
Pre-Columbian Era correct answers -Ice Age created a land bridge
-fall of megafuna- needed other sources of food- developed ag in Mesoamerica between 5500-
3500 BC- later than rest of world
-In Mex basin, mixture of sedentary and semi-sedentary people- living on plants and animals
around the extensive lakeshore in valley- moderate temp and abundant water- basis for settled
life
-earliest permanent villages- maize cultivation 2500-1400 BC
-900-500 BC pop in central highlands increased rapidly- more villages despite decline in lake
level
-more villages= more chiefdomes= alliances- expansion of exchange networks and growth of
cultivated lands
-Classical period (300-900) a great flowering throughout mesoamerica
The Olmecs correct answers -flourished 1200-300 BC in Gulf lowlands- the base for which later
cultures would develop
-never an empire- political system and religious system, long distance communication,
astronomy, and calendar reached sophisticated levels- no polotical culture beyond Gulf base area
-first to construct large scale ceremnial sites
-Shamoan Kings- elites who interpretted the cosmos, creation, and the cycle of human life
-needed large labor force -> chiefdoms exercising control over limited territories
-belief system pointed to a cosmos in which all elements and creatures were infused with a
spiritual power through discipline, fasting, meditation, and self mutilation (bloodletting)
-sought access to animal spirits to transcend human consciousness
-provided a legacy for subsequent mesoamerican cultures
-economic basis in extreme fertility of basin river area-> large pop
, Monte Alban and the Zapotec Cultures of Oaxaca correct answers -Monte Alban culture
dominated Oaxaca for a thousand years- first phase 500 to 400 BC- Rosario phase 700-500 BC:
poetry, art, architecture, masonry
-growth of pop and strain on resources-> concentrated labor force- economic and political
reordering
-concentrated landownership in valley explained increasing social differentiation and emergence
of a ruling elite
-Statehood emerged 200 BC-100AD- reached its height: construction, religion, social
stratification, and rulership- pop 15,000-30,000- strict caste system
-Major religious expression in the form of ancestor worship
-significance of the ball game- about 40 courts- significance unclear- appears to determine via
divine right- the outcomes of disputes such as land, water usage, etc
-growth of provincial centers led to a slacking of authority and increased autonomy
The Mayas correct answers -knowledge of maya civ largely disappeared after Sp conquest-
returned thanks to John Lloyd Stephens (1839-42) and Frederick Catherwood- travelled through
Mayan territory- findings stimulated awareness
-first attempts at translation began 1864-1882- key to understanding appeared lost
-breakthrough in decipherment came after 1973- realized glyphs represent a spoken language
with a fixed word order- lost history recovered
-1500 BC-200 AD- Mayas develop ag and built villages- swamp beds and river banks of
lowlands fertile material for high crop yield- access to sea by canoe
-900-300 BC- emergence of kingship- sharper division of wealth sustained a kingly office- noble
caste developed
-thriving network of long distance trade connected Maya lowlands to Guatemalan highlands and
SE Mex
-rituals designed to harness second energies- bloodletting- limited human sacrifice
-kingship collapsed after 8th ce alongside urban life and high civilization- reversion of peasant
life on forrest strips - general abandonment of literacy
-civilization rekindled in 9th ce
Pre-Columbian world been brought back to life to serve a political purpose in the present day
correct answers 1- Creation of Spanish colonial, political, and economic systems imposed on
existing cultures
2- Mexican national state constructed from New Spain
Soverignty, Territory, and National Settlement correct answers -Mexico extended much further N
than the limits of the Aztec, as did their culture- The capital fell in 1521, but rest of empire had to
be conquered very slowly
-Sp est cities which become centers of expansion for hispanic culture and military expansion
-Enlightenment= push to preserve Mexican history
-Mexican independence 1810-1821 saw Mexico as heir of both Spain and pre-columbian policies
-for Mex nationalists of 19th and 20th ce Axtec inheritance became fundamental to an
understanding of nationhood- Mexico existed before Sp- this thinking used to fend off Fr
intervention
-Fed constitution of 1917 responded to social pressures from peasants and urban workers over
land ownership and rights/conditions of labor
Living with the US correct answers -loss of Tx in 1836 followed by defeat in War and loss of
nearly 1/2 claimed territory
-Mexicans N of redrawn border become 2nd class citizens of a foreign power
-1960 Chicano mvt
-loss of far N confirmed shift in power in N America
-Mexican-US relationship focused on disparities of power and wealth- Mexico is symbollically
an island
-War still fresh in mind because of its connection to 1858-61 Civil War
-19th ce allies as far as Mex concerned but US cont to misunderstand Mexican people/policy
-Mexico join NAFTA in 1993- criticized by left for exposing Mexican ag to US competition
,-border problem- status/condition of migrants- US see border as security issue- border control est
in 1924 and fence in 1994
-US bracero programs 1942-64- Mexicans substitute for absent ag workers during war
Drug trafficking and Money correct answers -3/4 of Cocaine market destined for US markets-
Mexican drug cartels main threat to US
-Mex/US anti-narcotics strategy proved difficult to implement- DEA operate in Mex
-penetration of gangs into politics and security
-murder rate escalates allarmingly through 2000s- specifically journalists- mostly from feuding
between El Chapo gang and the Beltran Leyva bros- kidnapping and extortion increase
-police contracts with organized crime
Higher Profile of the Catholic correct answers -serious conflicts between church and state from
1873-6 and 1926-9
-constituition of 1917 forbade the formation of clerical political parties and confined church to a
limited role in edu only
-Restoration led by Pope John Paul II- 1992 new shrine created for martyrs of the revolution
-Mex church cont to press for religious edu, criticize secular schools, denounce liberal sexual
practices, and inveigh against controversial media
-2002 Pope visits Mex again
-2004- Mexican Primate Cardinal- abortion and birth control worse than drig trafficking-
following outcry to anti clericalism- blamed ills of Mexico on homosexuals, feminists, and other
minorites
-2010- Same sex civil legitimsation center of debate- ruled as a right in 2015 by Supreme Court-
Cardinam Rivera took this to be an attack on Christain doctrine and led a campaign against same
sex
A Perspective on the PResent correct answers -tendency to view Mex in isolation-unnecessary
distortion- post conquest Mex has always been integrated into the wider world in varying degrees
-Mex largely an exception to trends in S Am, wary of Chinese competition in the US market
,-2016- decline in oil $- deepening uncertainty about US relations= currency instability and
investor reticense
Pre-Columbian Era correct answers -Ice Age created a land bridge
-fall of megafuna- needed other sources of food- developed ag in Mesoamerica between 5500-
3500 BC- later than rest of world
-In Mex basin, mixture of sedentary and semi-sedentary people- living on plants and animals
around the extensive lakeshore in valley- moderate temp and abundant water- basis for settled
life
-earliest permanent villages- maize cultivation 2500-1400 BC
-900-500 BC pop in central highlands increased rapidly- more villages despite decline in lake
level
-more villages= more chiefdomes= alliances- expansion of exchange networks and growth of
cultivated lands
-Classical period (300-900) a great flowering throughout mesoamerica
The Olmecs correct answers -flourished 1200-300 BC in Gulf lowlands- the base for which later
cultures would develop
-never an empire- political system and religious system, long distance communication,
astronomy, and calendar reached sophisticated levels- no polotical culture beyond Gulf base area
-first to construct large scale ceremnial sites
-Shamoan Kings- elites who interpretted the cosmos, creation, and the cycle of human life
-needed large labor force -> chiefdoms exercising control over limited territories
-belief system pointed to a cosmos in which all elements and creatures were infused with a
spiritual power through discipline, fasting, meditation, and self mutilation (bloodletting)
-sought access to animal spirits to transcend human consciousness
-provided a legacy for subsequent mesoamerican cultures
-economic basis in extreme fertility of basin river area-> large pop
, Monte Alban and the Zapotec Cultures of Oaxaca correct answers -Monte Alban culture
dominated Oaxaca for a thousand years- first phase 500 to 400 BC- Rosario phase 700-500 BC:
poetry, art, architecture, masonry
-growth of pop and strain on resources-> concentrated labor force- economic and political
reordering
-concentrated landownership in valley explained increasing social differentiation and emergence
of a ruling elite
-Statehood emerged 200 BC-100AD- reached its height: construction, religion, social
stratification, and rulership- pop 15,000-30,000- strict caste system
-Major religious expression in the form of ancestor worship
-significance of the ball game- about 40 courts- significance unclear- appears to determine via
divine right- the outcomes of disputes such as land, water usage, etc
-growth of provincial centers led to a slacking of authority and increased autonomy
The Mayas correct answers -knowledge of maya civ largely disappeared after Sp conquest-
returned thanks to John Lloyd Stephens (1839-42) and Frederick Catherwood- travelled through
Mayan territory- findings stimulated awareness
-first attempts at translation began 1864-1882- key to understanding appeared lost
-breakthrough in decipherment came after 1973- realized glyphs represent a spoken language
with a fixed word order- lost history recovered
-1500 BC-200 AD- Mayas develop ag and built villages- swamp beds and river banks of
lowlands fertile material for high crop yield- access to sea by canoe
-900-300 BC- emergence of kingship- sharper division of wealth sustained a kingly office- noble
caste developed
-thriving network of long distance trade connected Maya lowlands to Guatemalan highlands and
SE Mex
-rituals designed to harness second energies- bloodletting- limited human sacrifice
-kingship collapsed after 8th ce alongside urban life and high civilization- reversion of peasant
life on forrest strips - general abandonment of literacy
-civilization rekindled in 9th ce
