Andrew T

First came the Olmecs, often called the Mother Culture of Mesoamerica, known for their colossal stone heads and influence on later cultures. then the Maya with their dazzling cities, mathematics, and calendars, and eventually the Aztecs, who built the grand empire settled on Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Unfortunately, we can't spend much time on this rich history.

We must progress to the time of European contact. In 1519, everything changed. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived and within just two years, the mighty Aztec empire fell. Disease, alliances with native enemies of the Aztecs, technological advantages, and brutal warfare aided the Spaniards in overthrowing a civilization of millions.

We must progress to the time of European contact. In 1519, everything changed. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived and within just two years, the mighty Aztec empire fell. Disease, alliances with native enemies of the Aztecs, technological advantages, and brutal warfare aided the Spaniards in overthrowing a civilization of millions.

We must progress to the time of European contact. In 1519, everything changed. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived and within just two years, the mighty Aztec empire fell. Disease, alliances with native enemies of the Aztecs, technological advantages, and brutal warfare aided the Spaniards in overthrowing a civilization of millions.

What followed was three centuries of colonial rule under Newspain, marked by extraction, Catholic conversion, and the mixing, often violently, of indigenous European and African peoples. By the early 1800s, the winds of independence were finally blowing. A Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo sparked the fight with a cry for freedom in 1810.

What followed was three centuries of colonial rule under Newspain, marked by extraction, Catholic conversion, and the mixing, often violently, of indigenous European and African peoples. By the early 1800s, the winds of independence were finally blowing. A Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo sparked the fight with a cry for freedom in 1810.

What followed was three centuries of colonial rule under Newspain, marked by extraction, Catholic conversion, and the mixing, often violently, of indigenous European and African peoples. By the early 1800s, the winds of independence were finally blowing. A Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo sparked the fight with a cry for freedom in 1810.

Specifically, he sought the end of rule by Spanish peninsulars, which are the people who came from Spain and ruled over Mexico. He called for the equality of races, and he called for the redistribution of land.

Specifically, he sought the end of rule by Spanish peninsulars, which are the people who came from Spain and ruled over Mexico. He called for the equality of races, and he called for the redistribution of land.

Specifically, he sought the end of rule by Spanish peninsulars, which are the people who came from Spain and ruled over Mexico. He called for the equality of races, and he called for the redistribution of land.

As Angel Capileti put it in Anarchism in Latin America, Hidalgo proposed to abolish, even if by gentle and gradual means, what he called in almost Proudhonian terms the horrible right of territorial property, perpetual, hereditary, and exclusive. This whole land topic is going to come up a lot in the history, by the way. You may be familiar with the phrase, land and freedom, tierra y libertad.

As Angel Capileti put it in Anarchism in Latin America, Hidalgo proposed to abolish, even if by gentle and gradual means, what he called in almost Proudhonian terms the horrible right of territorial property, perpetual, hereditary, and exclusive. This whole land topic is going to come up a lot in the history, by the way. You may be familiar with the phrase, land and freedom, tierra y libertad.

As Angel Capileti put it in Anarchism in Latin America, Hidalgo proposed to abolish, even if by gentle and gradual means, what he called in almost Proudhonian terms the horrible right of territorial property, perpetual, hereditary, and exclusive. This whole land topic is going to come up a lot in the history, by the way. You may be familiar with the phrase, land and freedom, tierra y libertad.

That comes from Mexico. Anyway, it took more than a decade of war, but by 1821, Mexico had finally broken free from Spain. Freedom, though, didn't mean stability.

That comes from Mexico. Anyway, it took more than a decade of war, but by 1821, Mexico had finally broken free from Spain. Freedom, though, didn't mean stability.

That comes from Mexico. Anyway, it took more than a decade of war, but by 1821, Mexico had finally broken free from Spain. Freedom, though, didn't mean stability.

The 19th century saw emperors come and go because there was actually a time when Mexico was a monarchy, foreign invasions by the United States via the Manifest Destiny, and Napoleon's France via monarchical Latin League, and internal power struggles.

The 19th century saw emperors come and go because there was actually a time when Mexico was a monarchy, foreign invasions by the United States via the Manifest Destiny, and Napoleon's France via monarchical Latin League, and internal power struggles.

The 19th century saw emperors come and go because there was actually a time when Mexico was a monarchy, foreign invasions by the United States via the Manifest Destiny, and Napoleon's France via monarchical Latin League, and internal power struggles.

The Zapotec president, Benito Juarez, who from 1864 to 1867 had resisted foreign occupation by Napoleon's Emperor Maximilian and fought for constitutional reform, sought to stabilize, secularize, and modernize the country.