What was mexico before it was mexico

They worked as warriors for hire in the many inter-tribal disputes among the people already settled in the area, until using that unrest to their advantage to become the ruling tribe of the area. Regardless of exactly where they came from, the Mexica people, later called Aztecs, would make the biggest impact on the valley it had ever seen, and the term Mexico most undoubtedly comes from them.

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Lydia Carey. Give us feedback. Read Next View. The criollos , or Spaniards born in the colony, were next in importance. Although often wealthy, they were allowed only minor government offices. Next came the mestizos, who frequently worked as supervisors or storekeepers or served as soldiers or parish priests.

At the bottom were the Indians, who labored in the mines or on the large estates under conditions of virtual slavery. The resulting conflict sparked the Mexican independence movement, whose first leader was a priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. On the evening of September 16 the date commemorated by Mexicans , , Hidalgo summoned his parishioners to revolt.

His army, composed mainly of mestizos and Indians, grew rapidly and won a number of victories, but they were eventually defeated by royalist troops in Hidalgo was captured and executed. After two years of fighting and several victories, in , Morelos called together a congress, which declared Mexican independence and drafted a constitution.

But Morelos was defeated in battle soon after. In he, too, was executed, leadership of the movement passing to Vicente Guerrero. Although independent, Mexico had as yet no real government. Iturbide seized power in , declaring himself emperor. Their successful revolt overthrew Iturbide and, in , made Mexico a republic.

For a short period the country enjoyed constitutional rule under Guadalupe Victoria, its first president, and Guerrero, its second. Mexico's progress to nationhood, however, was to be slow and difficult. Conflicts between conservatives and liberals weakened and divided the country. The conservatives supported a strong national government and sought to maintain their traditional privileges; the liberals advocated decentralized rule, sharply diminished church influence, and broad social reforms.

In l the presidency passed to Santa Anna, who dominated the country's life for more than twenty years. It was a time of political turmoil, with numerous governments succeeding one another. Foreign wars also sapped the country's strength. A dispute with France over Mexican debts brought French troops to Veracruz in The French were repulsed, but in a war with the United States , Mexico lost nearly half of its territory. The liberals exiled Santa Anna in and began to lead the country out of chaos.

Conservatives violently opposed the constitution, and Mexico was plunged into a three-year civil war known as the War of the Reform But the conflict had bankrupted the country. The British and Spanish soon departed, but France's emperor Napoleon III, urged on by the conservatives, seized the opportunity to establish a monarchy in Mexico.

French troops invaded the country in and captured Mexico City the following year. Meanwhile, Napoleon III and the conservatives had chosen as emperor of Mexico the archduke Maximilian of Austria, who arrived in with his wife, the empress Carlota, to assume the throne.

Maximilian was a well-meaning but weak ruler who tried to govern benevolently. His moderate policies and acceptance of the reforms that had deprived the church of much of its land cost him the support of the church hierarchy and conservative political leaders, however. When Napoleon III, under pressure from the United States, withdrew the support of French troops in , Maximilian was left isolated in the nation he supposedly ruled.

In he was captured by republican forces and executed. Most important, he introduced a program of free public education that reached out to the great mass of Indians and mestizos who could neither read nor write. When he died in office in , Mexico had become a nation. Widely celebrated patriotic events include Independence Day September 16 and Cinco de Mayo May 5 , which commemorates the Mexican victory over French invaders in Cuisine Mexican cuisine varies greatly by region but depends heavily on an ancient trinity of staples: corn maize , beans and squash.

Another staple, rice, is usually served alongside beans. Mexicans also tend to make liberal use of avocados often in the form of guacamole , chili peppers, amaranth, tomatoes, papayas, potatoes, lentils, plantains and vanilla a flavoring that is pre-Columbian in origin. Salt and hot peppers often served in a red or green sauce are the most common condiments; maize tortillas complement most main dishes.

Popular dishes vary by region and individual circumstances, but some of the more widely enjoyed foods are tortillas flat bread wraps made from wheat or maize flour , enchiladas, cornmeal tamales cooked within corn husks or banana leaves , burritos, soft—shell tacos, tortas sandwiches of chicken, pork or cheese and vegetables enclosed in a hard roll , stuffed chili peppers and quesadillas tortillas filled with soft cheese and meat.

Other favorites are soups and spicy stews such as menudo made from beef tripe and fresh vegetables and pozole stewed hominy and pork. Seafood dishes such as pulpo octopus , chipachole spicy crab soup and ceviche seafood marinated in lime or lemon juice are popular in coastal areas. In Oaxaca and a few other states, fried and spiced chapulines grasshoppers are considered a delicacy. A favorite among the Nahuatl Indians is huitlacoche corn fungus served wrapped in fat—fried quesadillas.

Among the preferred desserts are sweet breads, chocolates and dulce de leche caramelized milk , which is also called leche quemada or burned milk. On city sidewalks and streets, little bells announce the approach of paleteros, ambulatory vendors whose small insulated carts are filled with frozen paletas popsicle-like treats made from creams or juices and ice cream. Sugar—battered flautas deep—fried filled corn tortillas are popular with children of all ages.

Meals are often washed down with aguas frescas watery sweet drinks, usually roselle flowers , horchata a milky rice—based drink and drinks flavored with watermelon or other fresh fruit. Also popular are licuados fruit shakes or smoothies. During the Christmas holidays and on the Day of the Dead, one of the more popular drinks is atole or atol , a hot combination of corn or rice meal, water, and spices.

Several well-known alcoholic beverages made in Mexico are derived from the maguey and agave plants. Maguey—also known as the Century Plant—is used to make pulque, an inexpensive drink.

The plant was cultivated by many small farmers because it could thrive on infertile, rocky soil. The drink takes its name from Tequila, Jalisco, where it originated. Another alcoholic drink made from agave is mescal, which is produced primarily in Oaxaca. Though diverse in their styles and subject matter, each drew upon personal and social experiences to create their work, which informed the sensibilities of worldwide audiences and inspired generations of young artists.

Murals, an ancient art form, grace the walls of public and private buildings throughout Mexico. Generations of muralists—influenced by artistic legacies traceable to the Aztecs, Mayans and other pre-Hispanic civilizations—have added their stories to those of their ancestors, captivating passersby with evocative figures and landscapes captured in rich colors and bold strokes.

Music Music, like food, is a mainstay of Mexican social life. The styles are diverse and include both traditional and modern genres. Perhaps the best-known Mexican genre is the ranchero. Popularized after the revolution, the ranchera came to symbolize the new national consciousness and focuses largely on love, patriotism and nature.

Because of its familiar themes and rhythms, this song style has become popular among mariachi musicians.

Highly recognizable in their customary silver—studded charro cowboy outfits and wide—brimmed hats, mariachi groups have enjoyed notable commercial success and are often featured at festivals, banquets and wedding. Becoming increasingly popular among Mexican youths are modern genres such as pop, hip—hop and rock—musical forms that gained popularity during the last century in the United States. Some regions feature plays that recount events from local history.

In other cases, plays drawn from universal themes or celebrate such common concerns of daily life as love, marriage, joy, betrayal and hope. During Semana Santa the holy week from Easter until Palm Sunday , many communities enact a full passion play that depicts the events surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many of these performances are impressively staged and draw large crowds. Based on her theatrical portrayal of the internationally recognized Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salma Hayek became the first Mexican actress to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Literature Mexican writers have gained reputations by dealing with questions of universal significance. One of the best known is Samuel Ramos, whose philosophical speculations on humanity and culture in Mexico influenced post— writers in several genres.

Unlike other Mexican sports, soccer can emotionally divide the country, especially when Mexican rivals meet each other.

People from all over the country attend matches, which are usually held on Sundays. Winning the coveted Copa Libertadores, the Latin American equivalent of the European Cup, is an honor that motivates both players and fans alike. This event was one of the most memorable in sports history as Pele and his Brazilian team won for the third time, making them the first country ever to win the tournament more than twice.

Mexico hosted the event again in CharreadaA charreada is a Mexican—style rodeo. Unlike American rodeo in which participants are awarded prizes according to how quickly they perform, charreada focuses primarily on style and skill. In a circular arena approximately 40 meters 44 yards in diameter, Mexican cowboys and cowgirls wearing traditional charro cowboy clothing participate in a series of events involving bulls and horses. Baseball Along the Gulf of Mexico and in the northern Mexican states, baseball is very popular.

Bullfighting Also known as fiesta brava, bullfighting has been popular in Mexico for the last years. Like Spanish bullfighters, Mexican matadores perform specific moves, occasionally using a piece of red cloth to attract a bull in a graceful manner.

Bullfights are often preceded by festivities such as rodeos, pig chases and dances.