Pp.zocalo

The Zócalo The Zócalo

Political and Cultural Center of Political and Cultural Center of Mexico Mexico

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan• Aztec name for present day Mexico CityAztec name for present day Mexico City• Founded in 1325 – on Lake Texcoco Founded in 1325 – on Lake Texcoco • Urban built environment divided into four zones Urban built environment divided into four zones • One of the largest cities in the World in 1519 One of the largest cities in the World in 1519

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

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

be the returning god be the returning god QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl

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

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

Mexican Independence (1810 – Mexican Independence (1810 – 1821) 1821)

• Miguel Hidalgo, a parish priestMiguel Hidalgo, a parish priest• Led a peasant rebellion against Led a peasant rebellion against

the wealthy land ownersthe wealthy land owners• Mexico marks its independence Mexico marks its independence

on September 16, 1810on September 16, 1810• 1815 to 1821, most the fighting was 1815 to 1821, most the fighting was

done by guerrilla forcesdone by guerrilla forces• José María Morelos y Pavón takes José María Morelos y Pavón takes

over for Higalgoover for Higalgo• Treaty of Córdoba sealed Mexican Treaty of Córdoba sealed Mexican

independence independence

Mexico/USA compete for Control Mexico/USA compete for Control of North America of North America

• Texas fights for Texas fights for independence independence opens the conflictopens the conflict

• Mexican American Mexican American WarWar

• Treaty of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Guadalupe Hidalgo ratifies U. S. ratifies U. S. dominance dominance

Ruins of the Templo Mayor of the Ruins of the Templo Mayor of the Aztecs: Aztecs: TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Templo Mayor as an Urban Structure Templo Mayor as an Urban Structure

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

cycle), cycle), - HuitzilopochtliHuitzilopochtli (god of war, patron of conquests and (god of war, patron of conquests and

tributes tributes

Catedral Metropolitana Catedral Metropolitana

Catedral Metropolitana as an Catedral Metropolitana as an Urban Structure Urban Structure

Located on the ZócaloLocated on the Zócalo

Oldest and largest cathedral in Latin AmericaOldest and largest cathedral in Latin America

Baroque facade and 64m Neoclassical-style towers Baroque facade and 64m Neoclassical-style towers 18 bells each18 bells each

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

La Enseñanza ChurchLa Enseñanza Church

Second oldest cathedral in Second oldest cathedral in Mexico CityMexico City

Built in late 17Built in late 17 thth-18-18thth century century

Baroque style built by Baroque style built by Francisco GuerreroFrancisco Guerrero

Palacio Nacional Palacio Nacional

Hernán Cortés, built this government palace on Hernán Cortés, built this government palace on the site of Moctezuma's palace.the site of Moctezuma's palace.

Palacio Nacional of today dates back to 1693. Palacio Nacional of today dates back to 1693. Floor was added in the 1920s.Floor was added in the 1920s.Contains murals by Diego Rivera. Contains murals by Diego Rivera.

Portrays "Epic of the Mexican People in their Portrays "Epic of the Mexican People in their Struggle for Freedom and Independence“Struggle for Freedom and Independence“

Two thousand years of history are condensed into Two thousand years of history are condensed into space of an enormous wall. space of an enormous wall.

Palacio NacionalPalacio Nacional

Courtyard of Palacio NacionalCourtyard of Palacio Nacional

Diego Rivera MuralsDiego Rivera Murals

Murals of Palacio NacionalMurals of Palacio Nacional

The Zócalo Today The Zócalo Today

The Zócalo SurroundingsThe Zócalo Surroundings

La Enseñanza Church La Enseñanza Church

Political Significance Political Significance

For the Spanish - the plaza is “a manifestation of For the Spanish - the plaza is “a manifestation of local social order, of the between citizens and local social order, of the between citizens and the authority of the state.”the authority of the state.”

For the Amerindians – representation of Aztec For the Amerindians – representation of Aztec plazas at the center of the citiesplazas at the center of the cities

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

Mexican Revolution of Mexican Revolution of 1910 – 1917 1910 – 1917

Overthrew the dictator Overthrew the dictator Porferio Dictator DiasPorferio Dictator Dias

Revolutionaries occupied Revolutionaries occupied and held Mexico City 3 and held Mexico City 3 times - between 1914-times - between 1914-1915)1915)

2001 - Zapatistas look back to 2001 - Zapatistas look back to earlier revolutionaries earlier revolutionaries

Lead by Subcomandante Marcos Lead by Subcomandante Marcos

More than 100,000 people crowded the PlazaMore than 100,000 people crowded the Plaza

Demand Indian RightsDemand Indian Rights

Secure their place in Modern MexicoSecure their place in Modern Mexico

Question 1Question 1

The plaza has played a significant The plaza has played a significant role in Mexican politics in the past, will role in Mexican politics in the past, will this be changed by new venues of this be changed by new venues of political communication in the 21political communication in the 21stst century?century?

Question 2Question 2

The cultural significance of the plaza and its The cultural significance of the plaza and its surrounding urban infrastructure has been great surrounding urban infrastructure has been great since before the Spanish conquest. What is the since before the Spanish conquest. What is the political significance of the urban built political significance of the urban built environment in in contemporary Mexico?environment in in contemporary Mexico?

Question 3Question 3

How have contemporary Mexican governments How have contemporary Mexican governments used plazas in general , and the used plazas in general , and the Zócalo Zócalo specifically, to shape Mexican political culture? specifically, to shape Mexican political culture?

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. 2006"Wars of Independence, 1810-21." 7 Feb. 2006<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/11.htm>.<http://countrystudies.us/mexico/11.htm>.

SourcesSources

Low, Setha M. Low, Setha M. Cultural Meaning of the Plaza: The Cultural Meaning of the Plaza: The History of the Spanish-American Gridplan-Plaza History of the Spanish-American Gridplan-Plaza Urban Design. In the Cultural Meaning of Urban Urban Design. In the Cultural Meaning of Urban SpaceSpace. Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, . Robert Rotenburg and Gary Mcdonogh, eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. 1993. eds. CT and London. Bergin & Garvey. 1993. 75-83.75-83.

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

SourcesSources

"Emiliano Zapata." "Emiliano Zapata." WikipediaWikipedia. 8 Feb. 2006 . 8 Feb. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapat<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata>. a>.

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