9781422286944

The History of Mexico

ore than 3,000 years ago, the Olmec civilization flourished in

the land that is now Mexico. These ancient people built

cultural centers and left their artwork as reminders to today’s

world. They were followed by many other great cultures: the Teotihuacán

civilization, the Mayans, and finally the Aztecs. By the early 16th century,

the Aztecs ruled most of central Mexico.

When Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519, looking to claim this land

for Spain, many of the people ruled by the Aztecs were eager to join forces with

him. They resented the Aztecs’ rule, and they hoped that with the help of the

Spanish they could be free at last. Meanwhile, the Aztec ruler, Montezuma II,

mistook Cortés for one of the Aztecs’ favorite gods, Quetzalcoatl. Montezuma

opened his kingdom to the white strangers—and the Spanish repaid him by

taking him hostage and eventually slaughtering many of his people.

In the 300 years that followed, Mexico’s native peoples suffered under

Spain’s rule. Many of them died after being exposed to diseases like

smallpox

for which they had no

immunities

. The Spanish put them to work on their

haciendas, tried to take away their culture and religion, and refused to give

them any voice in their government.

The land known as Mexico has been home to many

civilizations over the centuries. The Mayan city of

Palenque, pictured at left, was inhabited from about

225

. until

. 800.