Located at the southern areas of North America, Mexico is teeming with a vast array of apparent contradictions. Its ancient historical landmarks are in full view of the seeming hustle and bustle of the big city, a teeming melting pot of people from all walks of life. With a unique mix of the traditional and the modern, Mexico is a result of the influx of external innovations and ideas foreign in origin, but converted and modified into a unique culture inherently their own, and is always a favorite destination spot for tourists and travellers alike, whether enjoying themselves in Mexico's finest beaches, exploring ancient Aztec ruins, or sightseeing and enjoying the Mexican nightlife.
Most of Mexico is situated within what is known as Middle America, lying south of the United States of America, and northwest to Guatemala and Belize. It is surrounded on its west coast by the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on its east coast. Mexico is also crossed by the two mountain ranges Sierra Madre Oriental, and Sierra Madre Occidental.
History
The earliest records of Mexican history start with the beginnings of the Olmec civilization around 1200 BC, in the Veracruz and Tabasco lowlands. They were closely followed by the Zapotecs in 300 BC, and the Mayans in 250 AD, the latter of which became the first of the greatest flourishing civilizations in Mexico.
In 1519, Spanish conquistadors led by Herman Cortes arrived in VeraCruz, conquering the then-thriving Aztecs, who had erroneously believed the Spaniards to be their god Quetzalcóatl. By 1605, only 1 million out of original 25 million natives remained, a victim of the Spaniards' harsh rule and diseases.
For the next three centuries, Spanish-born colonists were the nobility in what was now called New Spain. However, Napoloeon Bonaparte's occupation of Spain resulted in a fight for control between the Spanish-born colonists, and the criollos - people born in New Spain to Spanish parents. The beginnings of New Spain's rebellion and desire for independence began on September 16, 1810, but it would take eleven years of fighting before Spain would grant Mexico its independence.
Over the years, Mexico has seen small yet continuous growth in its economy, although gaps still remain between the rich and the poor. Currently, the government is trying to solve the income inequality and advocate the need for more infrastructure and improvement over obsolete industry policies.
Culture
Mexican culture is the result of centuries of tradition, violently supplanted and enforced in some cases, and peacefully observed in others. Spain has had a major prevailing influence over Mexico, notably in religion. Mexico is predominantly Roman Catholic, and are known for religious festivities including the Day of the Dead and offerings to the Lady of Guadalupe - both using a combination of devout Christian and pagan practices, a legacy of Mexico's history of injecting Christian themes into pagan customs by their former rulers. Mother's Day is a major holiday, and globo (homemade hot air balloons) races are a Mexican pastime.
