Jessi’s Blog: “What was Mexico Like?”

Chitzen Itza

One of our lovely readers has asked: “What was Mexico like before the Spanish arrived?” This is a difficult question, because history is written by the winners. There is information available, but mostly from an archaeological perspective. It dates back from early AD to 1519, when Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico. I will do my best to provide some information to pique your interest.
Before Hernan Cortez set foot on Mexican soil, there were indigenous peoples living all over Mexico and North America that date back 13,000 years. They were made up of

different cultures, like the Maya or the Aztecs,* which I have discussed previously.  They each had their own economic systems, usually based

Mayan ruins at Tulum

around agriculture. Much of the period before colonization is defined by the various civilizations that once stood. The Mayans built pyramids along the Yucatan Peninsula, in Chichen Itza which is just outside of Cancun.
The Aztecs may have reached as far north as the present day United

Toltec Warriors at Tula

States. Their capital was situated in present day Mexico City. The Toltecs today are known for their pyramids, and their statues in Tula. Many of them created methods of agriculture, astronomy, and

mathematics that are still used today. Their religion was based around two gods, Quetzlcoatl, the serpent god and Tezcatipoca, the smoked mirror.Their religion focused on human sacrifice to appease the gods. .  In addition to sacrifice, the Their religion also included a game called tlatchli.  It is much like basketball, as the goal is to get the ball through the hole on the wall, but one cannot touch the ball with one’s hands.

Tlachtli

Though these cultures were once great nations, they have either fallen apart, due to colonization of various sorts. The Aztecs were the latest, falling to the Spanish in 1591, but the Mayans disappeared rather mysteriously in the 9th century. However, their effects on contemporary culture is innumerable. For example, the Toltecs’ pyramids showed

Maya Calendar

archaeologists that the great pyramids are not just in Egypt. The Aztecs gave us chocolate, a 365 day/year calendar, and gum. The Mayans created their calendar using extensive knowledge about math and astronomy. So the next time you’re chewing gum or admiring the incoming fall weather, think about how far we’ve come to create our modern world.

 

 

 

By Jessica Shakarian

 

 

 

 

 

“Cesar Chavez“
“Indigenous Body Art“
“Jose Guadalupe Posada“
“Calvario“
“La Catrina“
“La Virgen de Guadalupe Defendiendo Chicano Rights“
“Aztec Death Rituals“
“Mosaic Skull”
“La Malinche”
“Tequila”
“Mariachi Music” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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