The Zócalo The Zócalo Mexico CityMexico City

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan• Present day Mexico CityPresent day Mexico City• The capital of the Aztec Empire founded in 1325The capital of the Aztec Empire founded in 1325• Built on Lake Texcoco, divided into four zones Built on Lake Texcoco, divided into four zones • Aztec legend of the City and the coat of armsAztec legend of the City and the coat of arms• One of the largest cities in the WorldOne of the largest cities in the World

Spanish ConquestSpanish Conquest• Hernán Cortés arrives on Hernán Cortés arrives on

November 8, 1519November 8, 1519• Moctezuma II believed Cortés Moctezuma II believed Cortés

to be the returning god to be the returning god QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl

• Aided by local tribes, Cortés Aided by local tribes, Cortés conquers and destroys most conquers and destroys most the citythe city

• Mexico City’s Zócalo is located Mexico City’s Zócalo is located at the original central plaza at the original central plaza and market of Tenochtitlan and market of Tenochtitlan

Mexican Independence Mexican Independence • Lasted from 1810 to 1821Lasted from 1810 to 1821• Miguel Hidalgo, a parish Miguel Hidalgo, a parish

priest who wanted a peasants priest who wanted a peasants rebellion against the wealthy rebellion against the wealthy land ownersland owners

• Mexico marks its Mexico marks its independence on September independence on September 16, 181016, 1810

• José María Morelos y Pavón José María Morelos y Pavón takes over for Higalgotakes over for Higalgo

• 1815 to 1821, most the 1815 to 1821, most the fighting was done by fighting was done by guerrilla forcesguerrilla forces

• Treaty of CórdobaTreaty of Córdoba

Mexican/American Mexican/American RelationsRelations

• Texas fights for Texas fights for independenceindependence

• Mexican Mexican American WarAmerican War

• Treaty of Treaty of Guadalupe Guadalupe HidalgoHidalgo

Templo MayorTemplo Mayor

- 60 m high60 m high- Dominated the plaza with duel templesDominated the plaza with duel temples- Tlaloc (god of water and rain, mainstay of Tlaloc (god of water and rain, mainstay of

the crop cycle), the crop cycle), - Huitzilopochtli (god of war, patron of Huitzilopochtli (god of war, patron of

conquests and tributes conquests and tributes

Catedral Metropolitana Catedral Metropolitana Cathedral at ZócaloCathedral at ZócaloOldest and largest cathedral in Latin Oldest and largest cathedral in Latin

AmericaAmericaBaroque facade and 64m Baroque facade and 64m

Neoclassical-style towers 18 bells Neoclassical-style towers 18 bells eacheach

Current cathedral built 1667, Current cathedral built 1667, finished 1813finished 1813

La Enseñanza ChurchLa Enseñanza ChurchSecond oldest Second oldest

cathedral in Mexico cathedral in Mexico CityCity

Built in late 17Built in late 17thth-18-18thth centurycentury

Baroque style built by Baroque style built by Francisco GuerreroFrancisco Guerrero

Palacio Nacional Palacio Nacional Hernán Cortés, built this government palace Hernán Cortés, built this government palace

on the site of Moctezuma's palace.on the site of Moctezuma's palace.Palacio Nacional of today dates back to Palacio Nacional of today dates back to

1693. 1693. Floor was added in the 1920s.Floor was added in the 1920s.Inside murals by Diego Rivera. Inside murals by Diego Rivera. "Epic of the Mexican People in their "Epic of the Mexican People in their

Struggle for Freedom and Independence", Struggle for Freedom and Independence", two thousand years of history are two thousand years of history are condensed into space of an enormous wall. condensed into space of an enormous wall.

The Zócalo The Zócalo

The Zócalo SurroundingsThe Zócalo Surroundings

Palacio NacionalPalacio Nacional

Courtyard of Palacio Courtyard of Palacio NacionalNacional

Diego Rivera MuralsDiego Rivera Murals

Murals of Palacio Murals of Palacio NacionalNacional

Zócalo CathedralZócalo Cathedral

La Enseñanza Church La Enseñanza Church

Templo Mayor Templo Mayor

Political Significance Political Significance For the Spanish - the plaza is “a For the Spanish - the plaza is “a

manifestation of local social order, of manifestation of local social order, of the between citizens and the the between citizens and the authority of the state.”authority of the state.”

For the Indians – representation of For the Indians – representation of Aztec plazas at the center of the Aztec plazas at the center of the citiescities

The Tiger of the South andThe Tiger of the South andthe Centaur of the Norththe Centaur of the North

Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution of 1910of 1910

to overthrow to overthrow Dictator DiasDictator Dias

occupied and held occupied and held Mexico City 3 Mexico City 3 timestimes

(between (between 1914-1915)1914-1915)

Zapatista 2001Zapatista 2001Lead by Subcomandante Marcos Lead by Subcomandante Marcos More than 100,000 people crowded the PlazaMore than 100,000 people crowded the PlazaDemand Indian RightsDemand Indian RightsSecure their place in Modern MexicoSecure their place in Modern Mexico

Question 1Question 1

The plaza has played a The plaza has played a significant role in Mexican significant role in Mexican politics in the past, how politics in the past, how significant will the role be in significant will the role be in the 21the 21stst century? century?

Question 2Question 2The religious significance of the plaza The religious significance of the plaza

has been great since before the has been great since before the Spanish conquest. How important Spanish conquest. How important are the religious buildings to the are the religious buildings to the governments and people of Mexico?governments and people of Mexico?

Question 3Question 3The plaza site goes to the beginnings The plaza site goes to the beginnings

of the Aztec tribes’ settlement of the of the Aztec tribes’ settlement of the Mexico Valley. How important is the Mexico Valley. How important is the tie between modern Mexican history tie between modern Mexican history and that of the pre-Colombian and that of the pre-Colombian natives? natives?

SourcesSources "Tenochtitlan." 7 Feb. 2006 "Tenochtitlan." 7 Feb. 2006

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenochtitlan>.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenochtitlan>.

"The Mexican-American War." 7 Feb. 2006"The Mexican-American War." 7 Feb. 2006<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/18.htm>.<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/18.htm>.

"The Spanish Conquest." 7 Feb. 2006 "The Spanish Conquest." 7 Feb. 2006 <http://countrystudies.us/mexico/6.htm><http://countrystudies.us/mexico/6.htm>

"Wars of Independence, 1810-21." 7 Feb. "Wars of Independence, 1810-21." 7 Feb. 20062006<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/11.htm>.<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/11.htm>.

SourcesSourcesLow, Setha M. Low, Setha M. Cultural Meaning of the Cultural Meaning of the

Plaza: The History of the Spanish-Plaza: The History of the Spanish-American Gridplan-Plaza Urban Design. American Gridplan-Plaza Urban Design. In the Cultural Meaning of Urban SpaceIn the Cultural Meaning of Urban Space. . Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. 1993. 75-83.1993. 75-83.

Rebels ride into Mexico CityRebels ride into Mexico City. BBC. 11 Mar. . BBC. 11 Mar. 2001. 2001. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americ<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1213778.stm>. as/1213778.stm>.

SourcesSources"Emiliano Zapata." "Emiliano Zapata." WikipediaWikipedia. 8 Feb. . 8 Feb.

2006 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata>. _Zapata>.

"Who Was Pancho Villa?" "Who Was Pancho Villa?" The California The California NativeNative. 8 Feb. 2006 . 8 Feb. 2006 <http://www.calnative.com/stories/n_v<http://www.calnative.com/stories/n_villa.htm>. illa.htm>.