Best Cultural History on Mexico A brief History of Mexican Timeline 1821

Timeline The History of Mexico Facts 

A Brief History of Mexico Timeline: The beginning of the history of Mexico dates back to the arrival of the original settlers more than 10,000 years ago. Little by little great peoples began to emerge (the Olmec, Teotihuacán, Maya and Mexica or Aztec civilizations stand out) that occupied different and large territories and developed their civilizations. In the 15th century the Spanish arrived, and, after a war of conquest, they subdued the local natives and created a viceroyalty (colonial state). Spanish rule lasted until 1821, the year in which Mexico won the War of Independence and the First Mexican Empire was created, which soon gave way to the First Federative Republic.

The History On Mexico

• Total Area of Mexico: Total Area: 1,964,375.00 km 2 Land Area: 1,943,945.00 km 2 
• Capital of Mexico: Mexico City is the capital as well as largest city of Mexico.
• Language of Mexico: The official language of Mexico is Spanish. (Mexican Spanish, not Castilian.) The vast majority of the Mexican population is monolingual in Spanish, like much of Latin America. Still, Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
• Continent of Mexico: North America.
• Currency of Mexico:  The Mexican Nuevo Peso.

The History of Mexico Timeline 

The history of Mexico, which is particularly rich, can be divided into three major periods. Different peoples with different cultures succeeded one another until 1521, when the last Aztec emperor surrendered to the Spaniards. The third part begins with the independence of Mexico in 1821 and lasts until the present day. 

The pre-Columbian period: Mexico Before 1821

The History of Mexican: Rich in history, tradition and culture, Mexico is made up of 31 states and a federal district. It is the third largest country in Latin America and has one of the largest populations. It is home to more Spanish speakers than any other country in the world. Despite the political and social changes that have occurred over the centuries, evidence of past cultures and events is evident everywhere in Mexico. Many rural areas of Mexico are still inhabited by indigenous peoples, whose lifestyles are similar to those of their ancestors.

In addition, many pre-Columbian ruins still exist throughout Mexico, including the ancient city of Teotihuacan and the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza and Tulum. Reminiscences of the colonial past are evident in the architecture of cities such as Taxco and Queretaro.

1. The Olmecs, the first peoples of Mexico

The History of Mexico TimeLine : Around 1500 AD, this civilization was the first to occupy Mexican territory. Installed in the current states of Puebla and Veracruz, the Olmecs already had well-established rites and construction techniques. 

2. The Mayans, the greatest pre-Columbian civilization

Early History of Mexican: The origin of the Mayas, dated a priori to the 4th century, is still unknown. At its peak (between 600 and 900 AD), this brilliant civilization extended mainly over the Yucatán Peninsula and almost all of what is now Guatemala. 

The chronological history of the ancient Mayan Empire could be established thanks to stelae dated by an extremely complex calendar. This tool testifies to the mathematical and astronomical knowledge of a people who were “obsessed with time”. 

The Mayans formed a very hierarchical civilization in “nation-states” to such an extent that each state had its own army. They had for Creator God, “Kukulcan”, the “feathered serpent” but also Itzamma (the Sky God) equivalent of Zeus among the Greeks. The most popular Mayan god was certainly Chac, the rain god. It can be said that, in general, the Mayan religion revered nature.

3. The arrival of the Toltecs

Around the 10th century, the Toltecs, a people from the north, invaded Yucatán when the Mayan civilization was in decline. The Mayans, a farming population, are struggling to recover from periods of drought and the impoverishment of soils exhausted by slash-and-burn corn. The arrival of the Toltecs and the establishment of the new empire at Chichen Itza introduced the art of goldsmithing and metalwork. Along with the common practice of human sacrifice, a new Toltec-Mayan culture is established. The revolt of the Mayas and the fall of Chechen Itza sign the end of the supremacy of the Toltecs. The History of Mexico.

4. The Aztecs, the last pre-Columbian people in Mexican history

The Aztecs, probable descendants of the Toltecs, were the last pre-Columbian people in Mexico to experience a golden period. This nomadic people had for mission, according to the prophecy of their god Huitzilopochtli, to build a city at the place where would appear to them an eagle devouring a snake above a cactus (a symbol which one finds today on the Mexican flag). The oracle took place in 1325 on an island in Lake Texaco. The Aztecs then built Tenochtitlan there, a city that would become the capital of the future Aztec Empire.

Spanish Colonization

Between 1517 and 1518, the Spaniards discovered and explored the east coast of Mexico. When the conquistadors landed in 1519, the Aztecs reigned supreme over the region, taxing populations and enlisting men in their armies. Unpopular with the natives, the Aztecs facilitated Spanish colonization. The first to land, on February 19, 1519, was Hernan Cortès, famous conquistador who founded the city of Veracruz. The Aztec Empire ended on August 13, 1521 with the siege of Tenochtitlan. The city was razed by the Spaniards who built Mexico City instead. The Spaniards therefore extended their territory called “New Spain” which enriched the Kingdom of Spain for many years. This is The History of Mexico City.

Independent Mexico After 1821

History of Mexico Independence Day: It was one of the most important episodes in the history of Mexico. What causes independence? There are essentially two causes: the first is that inequality in society was getting stronger. The second was the news that Napoleon Bonaparte had taken Spain: the logical effect was that Spain’s power in the colonies was instantly weakened and many took advantage of this circumstance to go on attack.

In particular we must remember the figure of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla who, on September 16, 1810, together with Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama began the Revolution with the famous” grito de Dolores ” (so called for having occurred in the city of Dolores). It consisted of a call to the people to rise up in arms against the Viceroyalty.

After a war that began in 1810, the Spaniards definitively lost Mexico in 1821. The Mexican insurrection that began in Valladolid gradually gained the main cities of the country. After more than ten years of struggle which cost many lives, Mexico acquired its independence. On May 18, 1822, Augustin de Iturbide became the first emperor of independent Mexico.

Before 1821 Mexico: Ancient History of Mexico Summary

Pre-Hispanic (or Pre-Columbian) Period: 2500 BC-1521 AD

The Mexico history timeline: The pre-Columbian era (that is, before the arrival of Columbus) is the one that scholars define as the first period of Mexican history. A su vez is divided into 3 sub-periods (pre-clásico mesoamericano, clásico mesoamericano and post-clásico mesoamericano).

Essentially we can say that it is the time of the great civilizations that both influenced the character, architecture and thoughts of the Mexican people. Highlight these civilizations: The History of Mexico.

Olmec

• Precursor of other pre-Columbian cultures. They existed between 1200 and 500 B.C.
• Located in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico.
• They had a calendar and hieroglyphic writing.
• Famous for the construction of great architectonic works, such as the colossal heads that, supposed, represented to great warriors of the age.
• The religion was fundamental and the supreme chief was the priest. Of course it was a polytheistic religion (the jaguar cult was very strong).
• It disappeared, is created, because of an ecological disaster.Teotihuacan
  It took place between 200 and 650 A.D. and its disappearance is a mystery to historians.
  Unlike the other pre-Columbian civilizations, it was concentrated only in one area: the one that corresponds to the remains of the city of Teotihuacán.
  Their religion was polytheistic, they worshiped different gods (Quetzalcoatl was the Serpent God, Huehuetéotl the Fire God, Tlaloc the God of rain, Tezcatlipoca the God of heaven and Earth). Sacrifices, including humans, were frequent.
  It was a society that subsisted especially from agriculture and commerce.
  It is assumed that the city of Teotihuacán came to have a population of 200,000 inhabitants, a barbarity in the America of that time. Curiosity: its remains are today the most visited in Mexico. The History of Mexico.

Teotihuacan

• It took place between 200 and 650 A.D. and its disappearance is a mystery to historians.
• Unlike the other pre-Columbian civilizations, it was concentrated only in one area: the one that corresponds to the remains of the city of Teotihuacán.
• Their religion was polytheistic, they worshiped different gods (Quetzalcoatl was the Serpent God, Huehuetéotl the Fire God, Tlaloc the God of rain, Tezcatlipoca the God of heaven and Earth). Sacrifices, including humans, were frequent.
• It was a society that subsisted especially from agriculture and commerce.
• It is assumed that the city of Teotihuacán came to have a population of 200,000 inhabitants, a barbarity in the America of that time. Curiosity: its remains are today the most visited in Mexico. The History of Mexico.

Mayan

• It is one of the most amazing civilizations in the world and has a history of almost 3,000 years.
• They were a society super advanced to their time and developed writing and language, also left important legacies in the architectural, astronomical and mathematical field.
• While in the past the Mayans were thought to be a theocratic society, today it is more logical that the Mayans were organized around feudal lords. Trade was so fundamental to them, they earned the nickname “the Phoenicians of America”.
• However, religion was a very important aspect in everyday life. The most important Mayan Gods were Hunaj Kú (the Creator God), Itzamná (the God of heaven, night and day), Kukulkán (the God of wind) and Chac (the God of rain).
• The Mayans never completely disappeared: today, especially in the Yucatan area, it is a strong and living culture.
• Since we are going to visit the Yucatan Peninsula and that is deeply influenced by this civilization, we have prepared this post with a few curiosities of the Mayan culture.
• The History of Mexico.

  

Mexico (Aztec)

• Although they are more known as “Aztecs” this term is later since they were called “mexica”.
  They lived in the middle of the Valley of Mexico.
• Society was divided into castes, with the military and priests being the highest castes.
• Their astrological knowledge was very advanced (they knew the phases of the moon and differentiated the constellations) and also, they gave great importance to art (so that later history has branded them, for a long time, barbarians).
• Religion was polytheistic and in this case also sacrifices were common (including humans).
• Their civilization died out in 1521 because of the diseases carried by the Spaniards.

Viceregal Period: 1521-1821

The History of Mexico: It is the time that lasts 3 centuries and that goes from the arrival of the Spaniards, led by Hernán Cortes (and the consequent fall of the Aztecs) to the Independence of Mexico.

The society of the Viceroy was thus hierarchized:

• Guachupines: the Spaniards by birth, who performed important jobs and enjoyed a high status.
• Criollos: children of the guachupines born in the American continent.
• Mestizos: children of people of different geographical origin (usually Spanish father and indigenous mother).

A figure that we found super interesting is that of Gonzalo Guerrero, a Spaniard who was taken prisoner by the Mayans and who, over time, learned to admire this culture so much that he did not hesitate to “change sides” and fight with them. He is also considered the father of miscegenation since he was the first Spaniard to have children with a Mayan woman. We recommend reading the book by Alfonso Mateo-Sagasta “Caminarás con el sol” that talks about its history and gives a million data and information of the time.

Contemporary and Modern era

Wars with France and the United States

The historical facts of Mexico: Something remarkable of this period were the Spanish attempts to reconquer Mexico (1821-1829) but, as you can well imagine, they failed. There were also two interventions at the hands of the French who demanded payments from the Mexicans: the War of the Cakes (1838-1839) and the War of 1862-1867 (after which Benito Juárez decided to stop paying the foreign debt, and of course, the French were not very happy). And, of course, we cannot forget the War with the United States, where Mexico lost about 50% of its territories (1846-1848). The History of Mexico.

Porfiriato and the Mexican Revolution Mexico History Facts

A History of Mexico facts: A relative stability began in 1876 when Porfirio Díaz came to power, who would remain in charge of the country until 1910. But make no mistake: stability is not always good, especially if it is a political dictatorship. The good thing about this era (Porfiriato) was that Mexico was modernized. The bad thing is that the dictatorship, obviously, did not like the majority: social tension was getting stronger, money was concentrated in the hands of a few and it led to an inevitable revolution. 

It was the year 1910 and Díaz, after having said that he would not run again, not only does he do it, but he manages to get his opponent, the real winner (Francisco Madero), sentenced to jail. The village was already tired.

Madero called for rebellion (Plan de San Luis Potosí) and was supported by leaders like Emiliano Zapata(does the term “zapatista?) and Pancho Villa. Díaz had to flee to Europe and his dictatorship was finally over.

What happened next? Madero was in power for about 2 years, but in 1913 he was murdered. The command now belonged to Victoriano Huerta, but in 1915 Venustiano Carranza replaced him and in 1917 the Constitution of Mexico was promulgated. In a few years all these leaders of the revolution die, and not of natural causes: Carranza’s men murder Emiliano Zapata and those of Álvaro Obregón kill Carranza. Pancho Villa also suffers the same fate. Come on … a lake of blood. Approximately 2 million people died during the Revolution, a full-fledged Civil War. The History of Mexico.

Mexico after the Revolution

The history of Mexico does not end here. After the Revolution and until 2000, the reformists ( a party that later, in the ’40s, would be renamed PRI/Partido Revolucionario Institucional) succeeded each other in Mexico. An essential figure is that of Lázaro Cárdenas del Rio, who in 1937 took command of the country and was responsible for fulfilling several issues that had been discussed for years, first of all the Agrarian Reform.

He also nationalized the railways and expropriated oil (which until then was in the hands of foreign companies). He was one of the best-rated presidents in Mexico’s history, although it must be remembered that not everything was beautiful: political corruption and high poverty rates were there. 

Cárdenas was succeeded by Manuel Avila Camacho who developed a moderate and centrist policy (although some say that his interests benefited the bourgeoisie more than all Mexicans). With the Second World War, Mexico’s economy suffered (like almost all) and in 1942 decided to go to War supporting the allies. 

See Also History of Spain 

The next presidents were Miguel Alemán, Ruiz Cortines (who granted universal suffrage and finally women were able to vote) and Adolfo López Mateos (who promoted great economic growth and inaugurated many hospitals, museums and schools).

1968 is another key date in Mexico’s history: the economy begins to slow down and the people are increasingly discontent. The Tlatelolco Massacre, during which hundreds and hundreds of students died after repression by the security forces, marks one of the most tragic episodes in modern Mexican history. 

The PRI is increasingly in question: with its repressive policy and the alleged electoral fraud (Carlos Salinas de Gortari won the elections after a rare and mysterious computer error), the party does not have a good time… but neither do Mexicans! The economy tends towards neoliberalism, hundreds of state companies are privatized and in the ‘ 80s the oil crisis is suffered. The History of Mexico.

These are also the years in which drug trafficking begins to take a lot of power and move a lot of money: these are the years in which Colombians begin to move their routes.

After a few years of PRI victories, in 2000 the elections were won by Vicente Fox, a member of Alianza por el Cambio. His intentions were very good, but he lacked support to carry out all the reforms he had thought of. The next one was Felipe Calderón of PAN, who is remembered for his hard fight against drug cartels: for example, he sent thousands of soldiers to the cities bordering the United States and managed to arrest some gang leader.

The effect is the opposite of what was desired: the guerrillas among the gangs are increasing (more than 50,000 dead during Calderón’s term, almost 10,000 per year) and decreasing only for a macabre reason: the main enemies had already been eliminated. The drug business was getting stronger and stronger. 

In 2012, the PRI returned to power, led by Enrique Peña Nieto, whose objective was to improve the country’s economy and its position internationally. During his government, several remarkable episodes occurred: to begin in 2014, 43 normalistas students (a collective of students of revolutionary origin) disappeared at the hands of corrupt police and were supposedly killed by the Guerreros Unidos cartel. And not only did national security not improve, as he had promised in his campaign, but the record number of nearly 26,000 deaths was recorded. 

The History of Mexico: Although there was a great triumph: the capture of El Chapo Guzmán, a triumph that ended up like a Hollywood movie: the Sinaloa cartel boss ended up escaping from the maximum security prison through a tunnel, and he did it on a motorcycle.

The newly elected president of Mexico is Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the National Regeneration Movement. He took office on December 1, 2018 and some of his promises were:

• Reduce his salary to 50% of the current president.
• Give up living in the official residence (Los Pinos).
• Sell the presidential plane (he said Trump doesn’t even have a plane like Peña’s).
• Fight poverty (”for the good of all, the poor first”).
• Banish corruption (“even if it belongs to family or friends”).
• Austerity in government.
• Combat insecurity.
• Reduce your escort.
• National energy and fuel production.
• Free and quality public education. 

People Culture And Fashion Of Mexico

History of New Mexico: Mexican culture is a vast territory that encompasses enormous identity differences. The variety of influences throughout Mexico’s history, from the ancient Mayan civilization to the dominant European presence, has shaped and defined the captivating country that is Mexico today.

The culture of Mexico is the product of a process of mixing indigenous practices and traditions with the Spanish colonial presence, which ended up producing an indelible mark in all vital aspects. There has always been a struggle of Mexicans throughout their history to define and promote the identity of their nation. However, due to political instability, wars with the United States and France, and colonial presence, Mexican society has had to struggle to create a cohesive identity.

Mexican culture is the result of both the tradition indigenous as of the Spanish culture imposed by colonization. A little less (in comparison) was the contribution of the African culture brought by the slaves that the Europeans themselves incorporated into the nascent society Latin American.

Among the Cultures Native Americans who gave rise to it, the Mayathe Mexica and the Toltec, among others. For its part, the Spanish influence was felt during the 500 years that lasted the Spanish-American colonial era, after the arrival of the Spanish conquerors to American lands in the fifteenth century.

Fashion Of Mexico Getty Image La Wera

History of Mexico Flag

The History of the flag of Mexico: It is usually considered as the first flag to the one hoisted by Miguel Hidalgo at the beginning of the independence process of Mexico with the Grito de Dolores. This was a banner with the Virgin of Guadalupe. The first insignia with the current colors of the Mexican flag was the one worn in 1821 by Agustín de Iturbide on his entry into Mexico City at the head of the Trigarante Army at the end of the War of Independence.

That flag, designed to symbolize the pact between royalists and independentists embodied in the Plan of Iguala, had three diagonal stripes that referred to the three principles that governed the pact: religion, independence and union. From bottom to top, it was formed by a white stripe (symbol of the Catholic religion) with a green star; a green stripe (symbol of independence) with a red star and a red stripe (symbol of union between Europeans and Americans) with a white star. In the center, a crown symbolizes the monarchical principles of the First Mexican Empire.

In 1822, with Agustín de Iturbide already emperor of Mexico, the bands of the flag became vertical and the crown that occupied the center was replaced by an eagle crowned standing on a cactus on an islet surrounded by water. With the establishment of the First Mexican Federal Republic in 1823, the design of the central shield changed: the imperial crown was removed from the eagle and it was decreed that it should stand on a cactus and holding a snake with the right claw and with the beak. The scene had to be framed by an oak branch and a laurel branch, symbols of the republic.

After the War of Reform, when the separation of the Catholic Church with the State took place in 1861, the colors of the Flag were maintained, but its meaning changed. Green came to symbolize hope; white, unity and red, the blood of national heroes.

With the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire, between 1863 and 1867, the flag was modified again by adding a crown to the eagle, as well as heraldic elements related to the Habsburg dynasty.

During the Porfiriato, the Republican flag was taken up again and the orientation of the eagle was modified to place it completely in front following the French fashion of the time. The definitive features of the Mexican flag were standardized after the Mexican Revolution, during the government of Venustiano Carranza. In 1916, by means of a decree, the characteristics of the shield that occupies the center of the flag were regulated. It was established that the eagle was represented in left profile and that it was standing on a cactus located on a rock islet surrounded by water.

In 1934, the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas, the use of the flag as a national symbol was promoted, it was placed in institutions, ceremonies of respect were encouraged in educational institutions. Finally, the 1968 Law on the Use of Patriotic Symbols definitively fixed the design.

Parts of the flag of Mexico

The flag of Mexico consists of three stripes of equal dimension, green next to the flagpole, white in the center and red.

• Green stripe
• White stripe, which contains the Coat of Arms of Mexico that has a diameter of three-quarters of the width of that stripe.
• Red stripe

There is no regulation on the dimensions that the Flag must have, but there is a regulation on the proportions, which must be 4:7.

Meaning of the flag of Mexico

The Mexican flag is a patriotic symbol that expresses the Mexican national identity. Its shield takes up the Aztec tradition with the myth of the foundation of Tenochtitlan. There is no official information that supports that each color of the flag of Mexico has a meaning and symbolism, although its history assigns symbolism of hope to green, unity to white and the blood of national heroes to red.

• What does the eagle symbolize on the flag of Mexico?

The eagle is a symbol of the sun and a representation of the victorious god Huitzilopochtli, in whose form, according to legend, he bowed before the arriving Aztecs.

what does the red stripe in Mexico’s flag symbolize?

• What does the symbol of the flag of Mexico mean?

Specific History The green stripe represents the Independence Movement. The white stripe represents the purity of the Catholic faith. The red stripe represents the Spaniards who joined the quest for independence and the blood of national heroes. The emblem-shield symbolizes the Aztec heritage.

• What does the eagle symbolize on the flag of Mexico?

The eagle is a symbol of the sun and a representation of the victorious god Huitzilopochtli, in whose form, according to legend, he bowed before the arriving Aztecs.

• What are some symbols that represent Mexico?

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