2. When many think of Mexico they
think of the negative and not
necessarily the positive.
Mexico is full of rich history,
religion, myths and culture; all those
things come into account when you visit a
diverse country like Mexico.
3. In the beginning..
It was said that some of the earliest Mexicans
could have been of the stone-age hunter-
gatherers from the north. Not much is known,
but by around 10,000 B.C Mexico had already
become populated.
4. The Olmec
Olmec Head
By around 1500 B.C.-
A.D. 300 a civilization
called the Olmec
settled in Tabasco and
Veracruz coasts. They
were regarded by
anthropologists as
"Mesoamerican's mother
culture because they
established a pattern
for later
civilizations,
developing basic
calendar, writing and
numbering systems"
(Delsol 18). They had
an affinity with were
jaguar believing that
they and in the past a
woman born children of
a jaguar.
Olmec Altar, La Venta, with half human-jaguar babies
5. Rise of Civilizations
Following the Olmec, the Maya,
Teotihuacan, Monte Alban and Palenque became
the center civilizations in Mexico. The city of
Teotihuacan was inhabited by 200,000
people, it was built near present-day Mexico
city and is now the most visited archaeological
site in Mexico.
The city of Teotihuacan today.
In the cities of Monte Alban, the elite reigned. During the
Post-Classic period the Toltecs rose to power in the capital
of Tula. The Toltect's had a lot of violent influence and
contributed to a lot of warfare. They had large military
classes, with numbers as large as 40,000 people. But by
the 13th Century their power had diminished, mostly due
to civil wars and rivalary.
6. Religion
Before the 15th century, most of the
population in Mexico had universal beliefs:
a belief of forces in nature, respect of the
calendar, and human sacrifice. But once the
Spaniards arrived they successfully converted the
population to Catholicism. Today, Catholicism is the
dominant religion in Mexico, followed by Protestants,
Muslims, Mennonites, and Jews. One of the most famous
and second-most visisted Roman Catholic holy sites in
the world is the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe. Between 1974 and 1976 the modern church of
Basilica was built. It has seating space for 10,000
people.
The new and old Basilica side by side.
7. Dia de los Muertos
Mexicans have forms of staying true to
ancient traditions. The holiday of Dia de
los Muertos (Day of the Dead), still hold
similiar traditions to those of the Atzec by
offering food and valuables to the dead. It is
celebrated on November 1st & 2nd.
Catrinas, one of the most popular figures of
the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
8. geography
Mexico also has many
geological features. It
is home to the Copper
Canyon, which is larger
and sometimes deeper
than the Grand Canyon.
There are two deserts,
150 rivers, five of the
rivers hold more than
half of the water in all
Popocatépetl Volcano the rivers combined and
four of these are
located in the southern
part of the country.
Mexico also has active
volcanoes, Popocatepetl
and Volcan de Fuego de
Colima. Because Mexico
is on top of three
tectonic plates, it is
one of the most
seismologically active
Copper Canyon places on Earth.
9. Wildlife
Mexico is known for being one of the most naturally diversed
places in the world. “Mexico also places first in reptile
biodiversity, with more than 740 known species; second in
mammals, at 526; fourth in amphibians, at 290; and 10th in
birds, at 1,150” (Delsol 49). Mexico's salvas (jungles) are
also home to various fauna, such as howler monkeys, jaguars,
numerous species of birds and coatimundis.The Mesoamerican Reef
which is located off the Yucatan Peninsula is the second-
largest reef in the world. There are 380 types of freshwater
fish, 1,300 ocean species, the most endangered porpoise, the
vaquita, blue whale, seven of the eight species of sea turtles
and manatees are all located in the waters of Mexico.
10. Dangers
When visiting Mexico it is important
to know that, although it is a beautiful
country it can also be dangerous. Mexico
is known for drug trafficking and the
cartel is known to become very violent but
travelers are the least of their worries,
but it is still advised to be safe and not
lurk in any suspicious areas that are not
familiar to you.
11. Many people travel to
Mexico to enjoy the resorts
in Alcapulco or Cancun, but
Mexico has so much more than
that. From archaeological
sites like Teotihuacan,
which stills has the
Pyrimads built hundreds of
years ago, to the Rugged
Copper Canyon and sea turtle
nesting sites. Travel in
November and witness the
culture tradition of Dia de
los Muertos, or view the
stunning artwork of Miguel
Cabrera or Frida Khalo and
the intricate interior of
the Santa Prisca y San
Sebastian Church. No matter
what you do in Mexico,
remember that everything
there has rich history,
strong culture and exuberant
people.
