Emily Nunez-Eddy

Present-day Mexico was settled as early as 20,000 B.C. by Nomadic paleo-Indian

societies and civilizations. These Pre-Columbian societies migrated from more northern
parts of North America, such as present-day United States, into Mexico. More advanced
and stable settlements became present much later, around 1,500 B.C. The evidence of
these societies lies in the farming techniques used to harvest squash, corn, beans, and
other crops. As discussed in Guns, Germs, and Steel, human wealth and success
depends on interaction with the environment. The establishment of these early
settlements and their ability to provide off the land set the foundation for further
indigenous societies to develop and thrive in Mexico.
The Classic Period in Mexico refers to a time period between 200 B.C. and 900
A.D. This period is defined by exceptional economic, linguistic, political, and agricultural
growth and expansion. Cities such as Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, and the Mayan
complexes emerged, developing over ten present-day cities. The success of these cities
in developing unique languages and dialects, politics and government, and extensive
agriculture and art, was met with an unexplained downfall in Teotihuacan in 650 A.D.
After the collapse of this society, the Mayan civilizations took root and ruled most
prominently from 600 A.D. to 900 A.D. Around 900 A.D., the Mayan civilizations also
collapsed, similarly to the Teotihuacan societies in 650 A.D. After the collapse of the
Mayan communities, migration of indigenous societies occurred throughout
Mesoamerica. By 1500 B.C., central Mexico (present day Mexico City) had once again

become the site of wide-scale urban advancement and economic power, established by
the Aztec empire.
The Aztecs became the most well-known and powerful indigenous empires in
Mexico, covering the large majority of central Mexico. The Aztecs developed extensive
agricultural techniques, including the domestication of animals and plants, as well as
developing language, government, and a functioning economy. The reign of the Aztec
empire ended abruptly as the Spanish began to conquest and colonize central Mexico.
The end of the Aztec empire occurred when Hernn Corts led the Spanish
military on an expedition to conquer central Mexico in 1519. Landing in present-day
Veracruz, Corts and his men essentially overthrew and executed the entirety of the Aztec
empire in only two years. By 1521, the colonial period had begun, one that strongly
mimicked the government, religion, and way of life of that of Spain. During these
colonial years, the individuals residing in Mexico became known as encomenderos,
men who were given the task by the Spanish monarchy of protecting a designated group
of Native Americans, educating them on the Spanish language, and assisting in
community growth and development. In return, the Native Americans worked in manual
labor to harvest a number of goods, including corn, metal, wheat, coal, etc., which would
then be exported to Spain. The existence of encomenderos quickly transformed into
something resembling slavery, the encomenderos often abusing and mistreating the
Indians through excessive labor and harsh punishment.
Through the progression of the sixteenth and seventeenth century, Mexico
advanced significantly, establishing a class system and further refining their government.

The class system was determined by race, the upper class being white, European-born
individuals, the middle class being mestizos or castas (an individual who is both
European and native), and the lower class being native Indians further reinforcing the
idea that many native Indians were basically under ownership of the wealthy, white
Spaniards. In terms of government, Mexico was officially ruled by an individual
appointed by the Spanish monarch, although was relatively autonomous from Spain.
During the colonial period, mercantilism acted as the primary form of economic trade in
Mexico. This continued until the eighteenth century, when war occurred in Mexico.
The ideas of the Enlightenment and egalitarianism caused tensions between
Mexico and Spain to rise as Mexico began to push the limits of independence. This
tension most significantly occurred between the Spanish monarchy and criollos (whites
born in Mexico), who felt as though they experienced discrimination politically and
economically. When King Charles IV abdicated from the Spanish throne, political leaders
in Mexico took advantage of the absence of a central leader in Spain to declare
sovereignty. Although independence did not come easily (many independence leaders
were jailed or executed for their resistance to Spain), multiple small battles, a guerilla
war, and an eventual alliance led Mexico to independence on September 27th, 1821. Spain
officially recognized Mexicos independence in 1836, after multiple attempts at
reconquest by Spanish conquistadors. The 20th and 21st century provided Mexico with an
abundance of battles and wars as it retained its independence and established itself as a
operative country with a functioning government, economy, and social infrastructure.

The conquest of Mexico was largely due to its appeal as a resource-rich country,
known as the New World. Mexicos climate was ideal for agricultural pursuits, made
easier by the preexisting Mayan and Aztec influence, who both contributed greatly to
social, political, and agricultural advancements later used by the Spanish conquistadors.
With every ecosystem in the world, it was quickly identified that the relatively new and
unexplored lands of Mexico were rich for exploiting.

WORKS CITED:
History of Mexico. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2015, from
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Mexico-history.htm
Palfrey, D. (1998, November 1). The settlement of New Spain: Mexico's Colonial era.
Retrieved September 15, 2015.