Journey Through Our Heritage
Mexico
Index
History:
 Mexico before conquest
 After conquest
 Mexican Independence
Mexico before conquest:
Before the arrival of the Spanish, Mexico was a populous region with a long history of
civilizations that were prosperous and accomplished in art, culture, technology and medicine.
Different indigenous groups lived throughout what is now known as Mexico. One well known
group was the Aztecs who were conquered by the Spanish after 1519. Before this time, during the 15th
and 16th centuries, the Aztecs were the predominant group of Mexico. The Aztecs are actually named
Mexica (me-shee-ka) and lived in Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City). It was the most thriving city in the
world at that time. Their city was built on an island in Lake Texcoco, where they had canals that ran
between chinampas (floating gardens) allowing the transportation of resources for the city. The
chinampas were extremely complex ecological systems that used above-surface gardens and also
allowed sub-surface fishing.
Although Aztecs were the predominant group, there were other important indigenous groups
that also lived in Mexico. The Olmecs were one of the earliest civilizations from the southern part of
Mexico. They are mainly known for making massive stone heads. Toltecs were another indigenous group
that was influential. They created the Mesoamerican ball-game. This was a complex game where players
had to pass a rubber ball through a hoop along a wall. The winner would be showered with praise and
gratitude from the crowd, the loser on the other hand would be sacrificed. Another important
indigenous group is the Maya who were advanced in writing and astronomy. The Maya still reside in the
southern region of Mexico today where they maintain their ancient traditions.
Reference: http://www.theancientweb.com/explore/content.aspx?content_id=19
After conquest:
In 1519, the arrival of Hernán Cortés (a Spanish Conquistador) and his men to Tenochtitlan
brought about a radical changed in Mexico and by the fall of 1521 the Aztec empire was in ruins. The last
Aztec emperor to rule before Mexico became New Spain was Cuauhtémoc. From the ruins of
Tenochtitlan, Mexico City was built. The encomiendas system was created where the native lands were
taken from the indigenous people and given to the conquistadores. These encomiendas also allowed
Spanish soldiers to have indigenous people work for them as slaves in order to run their estates.
Indigenous people were also converted to Catholicism and stripped of their culture. When the
indigenous peoples resisted they were brutally punished.
For many years the indigenous people resisted converting to the Spanish religion of Catholicism.
They were finally won over when according to legend Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, saw a
vision of the Virgen de Guadalupe on December 9, 1531. The legend states, that while Juan Diego was
on the hill in the dessert of Tepeyac near Mexico City, the lady told him to build a church exactly on the
spot where they were standing. He told the local bishop, who asked for some proof. He went back and
saw the vision again. Juan Diego told the lady that the bishop wanted proof, and she said "bring the
roses behind you." When he looked behind, he saw a bunch of roses growing. He cut the roses, placed
them in his poncho and returned to the bishop. When he arrived to the bishop, he said he had brought
proof and when he opened his poncho, instead of roses there was a picture of the Virgin. She was
accepted as the incarnation of the Aztec goddess, Tonantzin, by the indigenous peoples.
Today, the icon of La Virgen is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe nearby, one of the most
visited Catholic shrines in the world. The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico's most popular religious and
cultural image, given the titles "Queen of Mexico", "Empress of the Americas", and "Patroness of the
Americas". This incident signified a new beginning for believers of both the Catholic and indigenous
religions. It was a sign that the two belief systems could coincide peacefully as the indigenous people
were able to accept a religion where their own goddess played a significant role.
Although, this is an example of how the indigenous peoples and New Spain came together to
form a positive icon, not all examples of the emersion of these two cultures is positive. For example a
caste system was put into place by New Spain. Depending on how much Spanish blood a person had,
they were assigned a caste. This ensured that pure blooded Spanish had more rights than those of
mixed races. There were four levels to the caste system: the Gachupines, the Creoles, the Mestizos, and
the Caboclas. The highest class was the royal class, these people were Spanish born, and they were
called the Gachupines. Spanish who were born in Mexico were considered Creoles (Criollos), they did
not have a royal standing and were the second level of the caste system. People who born in Mexico
and were a mixture of Spanish and indigenous were considered Mestizos, they were the third level of
the caste system. In the fourth and lowest part of the caste system, were the Caboclas. The Caboclas
were a mixture of white, African, and Indian blood. The caste system was a clear example of how race
determined class in Mexico after Spanish ruled. Fortunately, the mixed people and indigenous people
did not believe in this system and fought to abolish the injustice. This led to the spur of the Mexican
Independence.
Source: http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1538-the-spanish-conquest-1519-1521
Mexican War of Independence
On September 16th, 1810 the Mexican War of Independence began between the people of
Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities. This movement was led by Mexican-born Spaniards,
Mestizos and Amerindians who sought independence from Spain. It was an idealistic peasants' rebellion
against their colonial masters, but ended as an unlikely alliance between Mexican ex-royalists and
Mexican guerrilla insurgents. Important notes to highlight within the Mexican War of Independence
include: The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, and José María Morelos, and
Iturbide. The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores") also known as El Grito de la Independencia ("Cry of
Independence"), uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato is the event that marks the
beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. It is the most important national holiday observed in
Mexico.
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo was a Mexican catholic priest who was credited with
instigating the rebellion. He was a member of a group of educated Criollos in Querétaro, Michoacan.
Hidalgo had a notorious reputation for gambling, fornicating, having children out of wedlock and not
believing in Hell. Most seriously, he encouraged his parishioners to illegally grow vines and olives. He
strongly believed the Spanish government and their mistreatment of the Mexicans was reason to revolt
and form an independent nation. Hidalgo was captured on 21 March 1811, and executed on 30 July.
Although he was unsuccessful in his original aim, Hidalgo's efforts were followed by those of José María
Morelos and Agustín de Iturbide who brought down the colonial governments of Spain in Mexico in
1821. Hidalgo is considered the Father of the Nation of Mexico.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mexican-war-of-independence-begins
Mexican Revolution
After Mexico gained their independence from Spain things were very hard for the new nation.
By 1861 the country was in debt to many foreign powers including Spain, England and France. The
president Benito H. Juarez, a Zapotec Indian by blood, declared a suspension on paying off this debt. The
French came to collect regardless and were defeated in May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. But then
returned to occupy Mexico for a number of years from 1864-1867. When the French finally returned
control of the government to the Mexican people Benito Juarez was once again president until his death
in 1872. His once ally and friend Porfirio Díaz went on to become president of Mexico. Diaz was in power
in Mexico from 1876 to 1911, a total of 35 years. During that time, Mexico modernized, adding
plantations, industry, mines and transportation infrastructure. Impoverished Mexicans suffered greatly,
however, and conditions for the most destitute were terribly cruel. The gap between rich and poor
widened greatly under Díaz, and this disparity was one of the causes of the Mexican Revolution (19101920).
In 1910, Díaz erred in declaring that the upcoming election would be fair and honest. Francisco I.
Madero, son of a wealthy family, took him at his word and began a campaign. When it became clear
that Madero would win, Díaz panicked and began clamping down. Madero was jailed for a time, and
eventually fled to exile in the United States. Even though Díaz “won” the election, Madero had showed
the world that the power of the dictator was waning. Madero declared himself the true President of
Mexico, and the Mexican Revolution was born. Before the end of 1910, regional leaders such as
Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, and Pascual Orozco had united behind Madero, and by May of 1911 Díaz
was forced to flee Mexico. He died in Paris in 1915, at the age of 85.The revolution was successful in
getting rid of Porfirio Diaz, and since the revolution no president has governed for longer than the
prescribed six years in office.
There are three major political parties in Mexico: the PRD ( Partido de la Revolucion
Democratica), the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucionalizado - the Institutionalized Revolutionary
Party) political party however maintained the presidency from the time of the revolution until Vicente
Fox of PAN (Partido de Accion Nacional - National Action Party) was elected president in 2000.
Source: http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/2824-the-mexican-revolution-1910
States of Mexico and Tribal Affiliations
1. Baja California (Kumeyaay)
2. Baja California Sur (Pericu)
3. Sonora (Yaqui)
4. Chihuahua (Tarahumara)
5. Coahuila (Kickapoo)
6. Nuevo Leon
7. Tamaulipas
8. Durango (Acaxee)
9. Sinaloa (Cahita)
10. Nayarit (Cora & Huichol)
11. Zacatecas (Guachichiles)
12. San Luis Potosi
13. Jalisco (Toltecs)
14. Guanajuato (Chichimecas)
15. Aguascalientes
16. Colima (Olmec)
17. Queretaro
18. Tlaxcala
19. Hidalgo (Tepehua)
20. Veracruz
21. Mexico
22. Michoacán (Purhepecha)
27. Chiapas (Chol &Carrizos)
23. Morelos (Tepaneca)
28. Tabasco
24. Puebla (Nahua & Totonacs)
29. Campeche
25. Guerrero
30. Yucatan (Mayan)
26. Oaxaca (Zapotecs)
31. Quintana Roo
Tribes of Mexico
Kumeyaay-The traditional Kumeyaay territory originally extended from around Escondido in California
to the northern part of the present day municipio of Ensenada.
Pericu-By the end of the 18th century the Pericu had vanished, mostly dispatched by the new diseases
introduced by outsiders.
Yaqui-The Yaqui are a Native American tribe who originally lived in the valley of the Río Yaqui in the
northern Mexican state of Sonora and throughout the Sonoran Desert region.
Tarahumara-The actual name Tarahumara was what the first Spanish called these Native American
people.
Kickapoo-the name "Kickapoo" means "Stands here and there".
Carrizos- known as the shoeless people, because they wore sandals instead of moccasins. Some Carrizo
captives still live among the Kiowa.
Tepehua-The Tepehua is a small tribe of 1400, and is settled in Chicontepec.
Totonacs-They are one of the possible builders of the Pre-Columbian city of El Tajín, and further
maintained quarters in Teotihuacán (a city which they claim to have built).
Huichol-The Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico are known for their beautifully
intricate yarn paintings and bead work. (Also known for their medicine ceremonies)
Guachichiles-Their territory extended westward close to the city of Zacatecas. The name Guachichil given to them by the Aztecs - meant "head colored red."
Acaxee-The Acaxee Indians lived in dispersed rancherías in the gorges and canyons of the Sierra Madre
Occidental in northwestern Durango and eastern Sinaloa.
Toltecs-The Toltecs sported the familiar ball game played by many Central American cultures and may
have sacrificed of the losers.
Olmec-The Olmec tribes are often regarded as the "mother" culture of Mexico and were known to eat
dogs during their time.
Cahita-The Cahitas are a mild, sociable people, very industrious, endowed with great intelligence, and
courageous.
Chichimecas-The Chichimeca peoples were in fact many different groups with varying ethnic and
linguistic affiliations.
Purhepecha-The Purhepecha live in the lake and mountain regions of the State of Michoacán, they called
themselves "p'urhépecha".
Tepanecs-The Tepanecs or Tepaneca are a Mesoamerican people who arrived in the Valley of Mexico in
the late 12th or early 13th centuries
Zapotecs-They were credited with having developed both highly advanced forms of communication and
technological capabilities beyond the norm for that time.
Nahual-an indigenous religious practitioner, identified by the Spanish as 'magicians'
Mayan-Building on the inherited inventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such as the Olmec, the
Mayans developed astronomy, calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing
Notable Indigenous Mexicans:
Cuauhtémoc, Benito Juárez
Comandante Ramona, Cajemé, María Sabina
Total population
10,103,517[1]
Regions with significant populations
Mexico
Languages
Nahuatl, Yucatec, Tzotzil, Mixtec, Zapotec, Otomi, Huichol, Totonac and other living
54 languages along the Mexican territory, as well as Spanish.
Religion
Christianity (Predominantly Roman Catholic, with an Amerindian religious element,
including Aztec and Mayan religion.)
Definition of Indigenous Mexicans
The number of indigenous Mexicans is judged using the political criteria found in the 2nd article
of the Mexican constitution. The Mexican census does not report racial-ethnicity but only the
political-ethnicity of indigenous communities who hold political autonomy and preserve their
indigenous languages, traditions, beliefs, and cultures.
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Mexico, in the second article of its Constitution, is defined as a "pluricultural" nation in
recognition of the diverse ethnic groups that constitute it, and in which the indigenous peoples
are the original foundation. According to the National Commission for the Development of
Indigenous Peoples (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas or CDI in
Spanish) and the INEGI (official census institute), there are 10.1 million indigenous people in
Mexico, of many different ethnic groups, which constitute 9.8% of the population in the country.
The indigenous peoples in Mexico have the right of free determination under the second article
of the constitution. According to this article the indigenous peoples are granted:
the right to decide the internal forms of social, economic, political and cultural organization;
the right to apply their own normative systems of regulation as long as human rights and
gender equality are respected;
the right to preserve and enrich their languages and cultures;
the right to elect representatives before the municipal council in which their territories are
located;
Also, the Law of Linguistic Rights of the Indigenous Languages recognizes 62 indigenous
languages as "national languages" which have the same validity as Spanish in all territories in
which they are spoken. According to the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Data
Processing (INEGI), approximately 5.4% of the population speaks an indigenous language – that
is, approximately half of those identified as indigenous. The recognition of indigenous languages
and the protection of indigenous cultures is granted not only to the ethnic groups indigenous to
modern-day Mexican territory, but also to other North American indigenous groups that
migrated to Mexico from the United States in the nineteenth century and those who immigrated
from Guatemala in the 1980s.
Statistics
According to the National Commission for the Development of the Indigenous Peoples (CDI)
there are 9,854,301 indigenous people reported in Mexico in 2000, which constitute 9.54% of the
population in the country. The CDI identifies 62 indigenous language groups in Mexico although
certain languages have multiple dialects each of which is unique and may be mutually
unintelligible. The majority of the indigenous population is concentrated in the central and
southern states. According to the CDI, the states with the greatest percentage of indigenous
population are:
Yucatán, 59%
Oaxaca, 48%
Quintana Roo, 39%
Chiapas, 28%
Campeche, 27%
Hidalgo, 24%
Puebla, 19%
Guerrero, 17%
San Luis Potosí, 15%
Veracruz, 15%