Mexico City, Distrito Federal

Mexico City, Distrito Federal

A WebQuest about Mexico CityFor Grade 8

Mexico City• Mexico City once had the highest

population of any city in the world, and it has hosted numerous rulers over the course of its history. Hundreds of years ago, the Aztecs claimed the city from smaller indigenous tribes and named it Tenochtitlan. Ingeniously, the Aztecs built a system of damns to keep the city surrounded by clear, fresh water at all times. In the 16th century, however, Mexico City was captured by the Spanish and later became the capital of the new Mexican Republic when the country declared its independence from Spain in the 19th century.

Fun Facts

• Mexico City has the largest Spanish-speaking population (21.2 million people) in the world.

• Average temperature ranges from 42 degrees Fahrenheit to 89 degrees Fahrenheit.

Introduction

• The Plaza of the Three Cultures, known as the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Spanish, symbolizes Mexico’s unique cultural heritage. Once the center of some of the most powerful Native American empires (Aztec), Mexico became a flourishing Spanish colony in the 16th century. Today, most Mexicans are mestizos, or persons with mixed European and Native American ancestry representing a third culture, thus the name of the area represents a mixture of all three cultures.

Plaza de las tres culturas• This is a square within Mexico

City where you can see examples of three separate cultures through architecture: an ancient Aztec ruin is found here, as well as a Spanish Cathedral, and a contemporary (1960’s) housing structure and government building. Each of these reflects a time in Mexican history, making this one of the more interesting and reflective things to do in Mexico City.

Plaza de las tres culturas

Plaza de las tres culturas• Plaza of the Three Cultures:

Located at Lazaro Cardeuas Y Manuel Gonzales Streets. (Three Cultures Square)

• The structures which represent the Three Cultures are therefore the ancient Aztec city of Tlatelolco, the Colonial Cathedral of Santiago 9which dates back to 1524), and the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Department of Foreign Affairs) building. These three structures can all be seen together at the same location.

Teotihuacan• Teotihuacan – also written

Teotihuacán, with a Spanish orthographic accent on the last syllable – is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbiian. Americas. Apart from the pyramidal structures, Teotihuacan is also known for its large residential complexes, the Avenue of the Dead, and numerous colorful, well-preserve murals.

• It is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico

View of the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Sun, from Pyramid of the Moon

(Pyramide de la Luna)

Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun• The Pyramid of the Sun, on the

east side of the Avenue of the Dead, is the third-largest pyramid in the world (surpassed only by the Great Pyramid of Cholula and the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt). It is the biggest restored pyramid in the Western Hemisphere and an awesome sight.

• The purpose of the Pyramid of the Sun is not entirely understood, but it is built on top of a sacred cave shaped like a four-leafed clover. Given the grand pyramid above, this cave was probably regarded as the very place where the gods created the world.

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

• The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico) in the southern part of Mexico City is a city in itself. It is among the oldest universities in the Americas. This is the main library, with its beautiful mosaic design.

Museo Frida Kahlo

• Frida Kahlo is one of the most famous artists in Mexican history. Her twentieth century contributions to Mexican culture are astounding, and you can see many of them here at the home where she lived most of her life. For art fans, this is not to be missed among attractions in Mexico City.

Museo Frida Kahlo

• Housed in the building where Frida lived with her husband, painter Diego Rivera, until her death in 1954, the Frida Kahlo gallery not only displays her work, but is a realistic portrayal of affluent bohemian life during this period in Mexican history. The colonial-style house is also called the Casa Azul.

http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/worksofart/index.html