| Term 
 
        | What three mountain ranges dominate Mexico? |  | Definition 
 
        | Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre del Sur |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | Describe Mexico's gulf coast's economy. |  | Definition 
 
        | It is one of the world's major oil producing regions, with petroleum and natural gas. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | Describe the geography, industry, and population of the Yucatan peninsula. |  | Definition 
 
        | It is a generally flat area with sinkholes and Mayan remains. It is sparsely populated, but tourism is a major industry (Cancun) |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | What is "The Place of 3 Cultures" and why? |  | Definition 
 
        | Plaza de las Tres Culturas, found in Mexico city, has Aztec, Spanish, and modern architecture. There is an Aztec pyramid, with a Spanish Church from 1609 behind it, and behind that is a modern office building. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | When did Latin America win most of it's independance? |  | Definition 
 
        | Late 1700s and early 1800s. |  | 
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | Strong military leaders like dictators who favored the rich |  | 
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | A Mexican dictator until he was overthrown in 1917. |  | 
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | They had the most powerful empire in early Mexico, and in the 1400s the capital city Tenochtitlan was built on an island in a lake. Many temples, social structures with royaltym and marketplaces could be found there. 60,000 Aztecs gathered there each day. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | What is between the three Mexican mountain ranges? |  | Definition 
 
        | A central plateau where Mexico City is located. |  | 
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | A peninsula to the north of Mexico |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | What is to the south of Mexico? |  | Definition 
 
        | A narrow strip of tropical coastline (Acupulco) |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | What is to the east of Mexico? |  | Definition 
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        | Term 
 
        | Describe the central plateau of Mexico (population, climate, geography, etc.) |  | Definition 
 
        | Most important area, with 80% of population living there. It has a nice, temperate climate usually in the 70s, and has the best farmland. However, it is geographically unstable because it is the intersection of 4 tectonic plates. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | What is in the South Pacific Coast of Mexico? |  | Definition 
 
        | Tourism is big, with ports such as Mazatlan, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | Describe the Spanish invasion of Mexico. |  | Definition 
 
        | Hernan Cortez came to Tenochtitlan in 1519 with 600 others from the Gulf Coast, where they had allied with Aztec enemies. Within two years they conquered the Aztecs, and the territory became the colony known as New Spain. |  | 
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        | Term 
 
        | Describe the Social Class system in New Spain. |  | Definition 
 
        | From top to bottom: Peninsulares (Spaniards from Spain)
 Criollos (children of Spaniards)
 Mestizos (Half European, half Native)
 Indigenous population/natives
 Haciendas (natives provided Spanish w/labor)
 |  | 
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | A criollo priest who in 1810 leads a revolt againsst the Spanish. |  | 
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