The Spanish conquest in Mexico made a huge impact on Mexican history and culture. Many early civilizations and cultures native to Mexico were oppressed for years. Though the colonization of Hernan Cortes, the conqueror, lasted for about three hundred years, Mexico finally gained its independence on September 16th in the year 1810.
There were five Pre-Columbian native civilizations who thrived most throughout the Mexican history: The Olmecs, Teotihuacan, The Toltecs, The Mayans, and The Aztecs. Nonetheless, all of these five civilizations contributed many of Mexico's unique traits, despite the circumstances brought with the Spanish conquest. The Olmecs were the first civilization known that settled in the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The Mayan civilization was vastly aware of their learning capacity and often experimented with it. They developed writing systems, a calendar, and often worked with mathematics. The Aztecs were the last native civilization and perhaps the most developed, influenced by earlier Mexican civilizations. The Aztecs conducted huge, important religious ceremonies that featured dances processions, and even sacrifices.
The Spaniard Hernan Cortes arrived at Mexico in 1519, where the conquistador was mistaken by a god by the Aztec King at the time. This brought troubles to the Aztecs, seeing as many believed Cortes to be a god, they actually helped him take over the Aztec empire. After colonizing the area, a large part of the indigenous population was enslaved by the Spaniards and many died after catching diseases from which the Spaniards were already immune to. Many missionaries began arriving in the year 1523, building monasteries and converting millions of people to Catholicism.
On September 16, 1810, a rebellion was started by a parish priest who believed in the rights of native Mexicans. Rebel leader Vicente Guerrero and royalist general, Agustin de Iturbide collaborated to gain Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821. A Mexican constitution was drafted by these two leaders, but shortly after, Iturbide declared himself emperor of Mexico. He was soon overthrown by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna who drew up a new Mexican constitution, establishing a federal Mexican republic composed of nineteen states and four territories. Santa Anna served as Mexico's president for a period of thirteen years (1823-1836). Santa Anna was later defeated by American forces and forced into exile by the year 1855 after the Mexican-American War.
Porfirio Diaz served as the next Mexican president from 1876 to 1909. He was a dictator who favored only the higher social classes, nonetheless, he greatly improved the industry and the infrastructure of the country.
Another revolution was started in the year 1910, after the Mexican people grew tired of the unbalanced socio-economic status in the country. There was no balance in the distribution of wealth and power and this agitated many. After the revolution lasting around 10 years, Lazaro Cardenas came into power in the year 1934. He reestablished the an ancient system that established communally shared tracts of farmland, which benefited both, the citizens and the country. World War II greatly influenced the development of new roads and the building of new factories and irrigation systems.
The incrementation of Mexico's population has been huge since World War II, but the distribution of wealth still seems to be imbalanced. The Zapatista National Liberation Army, or also known as the Zapatistas, recently rose up to defend the poor because they are generally unable to improve their socio-economic status.
Their rebellion was unsuccessful, but they continue to fights against injustices for the poor and imbalanced land ownership and land distribution.
Mexico suffers from the ever-growing problem of the trafficking of drugs, despite the already existing social divisions. This leads to a lot of political and police corruption, helping widening the gap of the elite and underprivileged classes.
Despite the political and social changes that have occurred over the centuries, the evidence of past cultures in Mexico is undeniable and apparent everywhere in the country. Much of Mexico's rural areas are still inhabited by indigenous people who have kept the culture and traditions of their direct ancestors.
History Channel
U.S. Department of State
Guide to Mexico
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