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The United States of Mexico, more commonly known as Mexico, is a republic made up of thirty-two free and sovereign states in North America. To the north of Mexico is the United States of America, and to the south are the countries of Guatemala and Belize. It is surrounded by several large bodies of water, with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Gulf of California runs between the northwestern part of mainland Mexico and the Baja Peninsula.
A depiction of Tenochtitlan
The capital of Mexico is Mexico City, and it was formerly known as the Federal District. It was founded by the Aztecs in 1325, making it the oldest city in North America. At its founding, the capital was known as Tenochtitlán, and it was built on an island in Lake Texcoco. It was a densely populated island city with towers and fortresses and had a thriving economy. The city's current landscape took shape after the Spanish invaded, drained the lake that surrounded it, and restructured the city. There are still remnants of the style the Aztecs used to build the original city, such as canals and rivers that run through the city.
Mexico City today
Mexico has thirty-one UNESCO World Heritage sites that showcase feats accomplished by the complex civilizations that were dominant in the country's history. Today, Mexico has the second-largest economy in Latin America. It plays a crucial part in global economics with its open policy for trading and is a hub for fulfilling the manufacturing needs of global enterprises.
Mexico has a long history that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Its first complex society dates to approximately 1200 B.C. and was composed of the Olmec people. This society developed writing and calendar systems that influenced other civilizations that developed later in Mexico.
The origin of the name of Mexico is debated but is thought to come from the Mayan language of the Nahuatl word Mēxihco, meaning "navel of the moon." The Mexica is what the Aztec people called themselves; they were a nomadic people who settled in the area after traveling from a northern land that is known to have been the home of the ancestral Aztecs.
Other large societies in Mexico included the Maya, Toltecs, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs. There were also other smaller groups of people who inhabited Mexico.
In the early 1500s, the Spanish started making trips to Mexico. Spanish terrorist Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1521 after gaining allies and warriors from enemies of the Aztec empire to help fight. Cortes and his allies were able to capture the capital through violent, organized assaults and by killing portions of the population with the smallpox virus that he and his fellow Spaniards had brought with them from Europe.
The Spanish enforced military and economic control. They also forced Catholicism on the people of Mexico while continuing to spread diseases that drastically reduced the indigenous population.
The War of Independence was started in 1810 by Mexican priest Miguel Hildago. This war led to the Spanish eventually retreating in 1821 and Mexico gaining its independence. The country was initially changed to an empire, and the emperor was Agustin de Iturbide, who had been a leader in the fight for independence when the Spanish were finally expulsed. The people of the country did not like this new leader or this form of government, so in 1823, Mexico became a republic.
Mexican Independence Day is celebrated every year on September 16th, which is the day Father Hildago made the historic call for independence, known as El Grito in Spanish.
The Pacific Coast of Mexico
Mexico covers an area of about 761,600 square miles with approximately 7,000 miles of coastline. It is the fifth-largest country in the Americas and the fourteenth-largest country in the world.
The terrain of the country varies greatly depending on its geographical location. Much of the north of the country is made up of deserts, and to the east are rainforests and a mountain range called the Sierra Madre Oriental. The southern part of the country also has both rainforests and mountains. To the west is the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range and beaches along the coast that meet the Pacific Ocean. The central part of Mexico, where 25 percent of the country's population lives in or around the capital of Mexico City, has volcanoes, some of which are covered in snow.
Mountain ranges and a volcano in Mexico
In addition to being surrounded by water on both the east and west coasts, Mexico has various bodies of water throughout the country. There are more than forty-two rivers throughout Mexico with the longest being the Río Bravo del Norte (also known as the Rio Grande).
One of the Lakes of Montebello
There are also large lakes in the country, such as Lake Chapala and the Lakes of Montebello, the latter of which are located in the southern part of Mexico near the Guatemala border.
Mexico has a diverse landscape, which yields various natural resources. It has a lot of agricultural resources, including corn, coffee, avocados, and the maguey plant, which is used to make tequila. Other natural resources include oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, and wood.
Mexico's large size and availability of plains allow it to be a major producer of meat products, such as beef. The aforementioned vast coastlines give the country access to marine resources like seafood.
The geography of Mexico, combined with its size, means there are several different climates throughout the country. Some scientific climate classification systems indicate there are seven different climate regions in Mexico:
Climate regions in Mexico
- Tropical wet
- Tropical wet and dry
- Semi-arid
- Arid (desert)
- Temperate with dry winters
- Humid subtropical
- Mediterranean
Other systems state that there are simply two climate regions: tropical and temperate. The regions are divided by the Tropic of Cancer, and the region to the north is considered temperate, especially in areas with higher elevation. The region south of the Tropic of Cancer is more tropical and experiences heat and humidity for much of the year, especially along the coasts.
Mexico's varying geography and climates mean that there are different natural hazards that occur throughout the country, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Hurricanes are known to hit the coasts of Mexico, including the Pacific Coast, Gulf Coast, and Yucatan Peninsula. They occur during specific months of the year, normally between June and November. The hurricanes bring strong winds and a lot of rain, which can lead to flooding and landslides.
It is reported that Mexico experiences earthquakes every day, although most of them are small tremors. The excessive number of earthquakes is due to its location in the "Ring of Fire," where two tectonic plates (Cocos and North America) meet and inevitably collide when shifting, causing earthquakes. Most earthquakes in Mexico occur on the west coast, although the most recent catastrophic earthquake experienced in the country was in Mexico City in September 2017.
Mexico has more than seventy volcanoes throughout the country. Many of them are located in the aforementioned "Ring of Fire," and the most active ones are named Popocatepetl, Colima, and El Chichon. In March 1982, one of the deadliest volcano eruptions in recent history in Mexico killed 1,879 people when El Chicon erupted. The volcano is located in the southern region of the country.
Drone footage of the Popocatepetl volcano eruption
In May 2023, Popocatepetl, which is located in the central part of Mexico, started showing signs of increased activity, including plumes of ash spewing into the air. The volcano had been dormant since 1994, and its activity is cause for serious alarm as more than 25 million people live within its vicinity.
The varying landscape of Mexico creates a variety of habitats for wildlife creatures to thrive. Some of those creatures are dangerous to both humans and other species. There are many poisonous lizards, snakes, and insects and also dangerous aquatic species off the shores of Mexico, including box jellyfish.
Mexico is a federal republic with a government led by a democratically elected president. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch is almost exclusively controlled by the president, who has control over the states and the ruling party of the country. The legislative branch is governed by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and the judicial branch is governed by the Supreme Court.
The Constitution of Mexico was written in 1917 and is the third Constitution of the present-day country. It was written around the end of the Mexican Revolution and thus contains the ideas and values of a country experiencing a revolution, such as liberties for the people of Mexico.
Federal elections and elections for senators are held concurrently every six years. They are held on the first Sunday of July, and voting is legally compulsory for all eligible voters. Governors are also elected every six years, while elections for the Chamber of Deputies are held once every three years.
The National Electoral Institute (INE) was established in 1990 under the name Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) as a non-partisan and independent agency to oversee elections and curb political corruption. In 2023, the Senate passed a bill to minimize the power of the organization, making the future of the organization unclear.
Each of Mexico's thirty-two states has its own rights and elects its own officials for its government. The leader of each state is an elected governor, and in the capital, there is a chief of government.
Each state has a Supreme Court and Congress, which allows them to enact their own laws within the power that is allowed by the federal government. Each state is also divided into smaller municipalities that can elect their own mayors.
The government is split into three branches to divide the power of the country, per Article 49 of the Mexican Constitution.
The National Palace in Mexico City where the federal executive branch operates.
The president is the only member of the federal executive branch and is also named Chief of State and the Army. Registered voters from the thirty-two states of Mexico can vote for the president during the election, which is once every six years. Presidents historically have only been able to serve one term and have no vice president.
The legislative branch is known as the Congress, which is divided into two parts: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is known as the "Upper Chamber," and the Chamber of Deputies is known as the "Lower Chamber." The elected officials in this branch of government have power over the laws of the country and debate renewing existing laws and enacting new ones.
At the federal level, the judicial branch of the government in Mexico is composed of eleven ministers who are elected to be part of the Supreme Court and hold their position for a term of fifteen years. The main purpose of the Supreme Court is to defend the Constitution and protect human rights.
Mexico's military is operated through two government ministries: the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and the Secretariat of the Navy. It is ranked as the thirty-first strongest military out of 145 countries evaluated in 2023 and is well-funded, with SEDENA receiving more than $7 billion in a trust fund in 2023.
Mexican military patrolling a beach
It is often referred to as the "Mexican Armed Forces" and has three branches: the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The responsibilities of the military extend beyond international protection, and the military is often used in domestic settings as law enforcement for drug mitigation efforts and disaster relief. The military is also sometimes used to carry out infrastructure projects, such as a new airport in Mexico City.
Due to the strength and power the military has within the country, there are accusations of corruption and abuse of power. International organizations, such as Amnesty International, have also noted that they have documentation of abuses by the military.
Law enforcement in Mexico is divided into different forces depending on their power and jurisdiction. There are law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and municipal levels. At the federal level, there is the National Guard. There are two main branches of the national police force: the uniformed branch, called Policia Federal, and the plain-clothed branch that specializes in criminal investigations, Policía Federal Ministerial.
Mexico has the second-largest economy in Latin America after Brazil. It is dependent on strong trade relations with countries such as the United States and Japan. The largest sectors that contribute to the Mexican economy include the following:
- services
- manufacturing
- commerce
- agriculture
- mining
- energy production
- finance
The country's economy fell by 8 percent in 2020 due to issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy slowly recovered after 2020, and although the country experienced noticeable inflation along with the rest of the world. Some salaries also increased, allowing some Mexicans to keep spending money in the economy.
Percentage distribution of wealth in Mexico in 2021, by wealth percentile
While the economy is fairly strong in Mexico, the uneven wealth distribution is abnormally high. In 2021, it was reported that the top 10 percent of the wealthiest people in Mexico held nearly 80 percent of the wealth. It was also found that the bottom 50 percent of people held -0.2 percent of the wealth in Mexico, meaning that, on average, the bottom 50 percent had more debt than assets. According to the World Inequality Report of 2022, these statistics make Mexico one of the most economically unequal countries in the world.
There are nearly 130 million people in Mexico belonging to different ethnic groups, such as those below:
- Mestizo (Amerindian and Spanish)
- predominantly Amerindian
- Amerindian
- mostly European
The largest ethnic group is the Mestizos, but that is only estimated because Mexico does not collect census data based on ethnicity. The major cities in the country, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Puebla, are densely populated.
Spanish is the most spoken language in Mexico, but there are people who speak the language of their native tribe. Examples of those languages include Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, Tzeltal Maya, Tzotzil Maya, and Otomi.
The image that can be seen on Mexico's official flag is of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus holding a snake in its beak. This is a symbol from an Aztec prophecy that stated that the Aztecs, who were nomadic people at the time, would find a permanent place to live when they saw an eagle perched on a prickly pear tree with a snake in its beak. The nomadic Aztecs found that near Lake Texcoco and started to build Teotihuacán, the original Mexico City.
Mexico's flag
The colors used on the Mexican flag are green, white, and red. The meanings of the colors have changed since the flag was first made in 1821. Today, it is generally accepted that the color green represents hope for the nation, the white represents unity, and the red represents the blood of the Mexicans who fought and died for the country's independence.
Given that there were various separate tribes throughout Mexico in pre-Hispanic times, the country was founded with multiple different indigenous cultures that ended up being influenced by Spanish culture. These cultures blend together and impact the culture that is seen in Mexico today through art, food, music, and more.
Art in Mexico can be traced back thousands of years with ceramics with art painted on them being uncovered from the Maya and Aztec civilizations. Murals have also been found in ancient temples throughout the country.
A painting of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera by Frida Kahlo
Mexico experienced a surge in art and artists after the Mexican Revolution. Many of the painters from the 1900s captured the people and culture of Mexico in their paintings. Famous Mexican painters include the following:
There is a large presence of folk art in Mexico as well. The folk art varies from region to region as artists use different local resources and materials to create the art or crafts. Materials that are used include clay, wood, metal, stones, and plants. Mexican folk art is known for its vibrant colors, which can be seen in paintings, artisanal goods, and patterns in clothing.
The architecture that can be seen in Mexico spans from pre-Hispanic times through present day, with modern skyscrapers in major cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Ruins of ancient stone architecture can be seen in places such as Chiapas and Tabasco. Archaeological sites throughout the country show the architecture that was used by civilizations prior to the arrival of the Spanish. One example of these sites is Chichen Itza, which is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and several pieces of architecture, such as temples and a pyramid from the Mayan civilization, are located there. The architecture is made of stone and is designed for practical as well as aesthetic purposes.
Once the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the architecture that was being constructed had colonial influence from Europe. Much of the architecture was in the form of churches and monasteries to house places to spread the religion of Spain, Catholicism. This type of architecture was also constructed with stone but used architectural styles that were popular in Europe, including Gothic and Baroque.
Guanajuato City
There are cities throughout Mexico that are considered "colonial" cities because of the style of architecture that is dominant in the city. Examples include Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, and these cities have buildings that are influenced by Spanish architecture. These cities are also known for their colorful buildings and houses that are painted bright colors, such as red, orange, and yellow on the stucco facades.
Modern architecture can be seen in large cities, such as Mexico City. In Mexico City in particular, modern architecture can be seen in the museums, libraries, and religious centers. The architecture has modern features, such as curved shapes and the use of metal and glass for both the facade and interior of the buildings.
Mexican food has become increasingly popular over the years, and the country has become a hub for culinary conventions and events, such as the grand finale for popular cooking TV show Top Chef.
A lot of Mexican cuisine has been developed around ingredients that are available locally. Those ingredients vary depending on geographical location; thus, the cuisine varies from place to place in Mexico. Ingredients that are commonly used throughout the entire country include corn, limes, poblano chilies, beans, and various types of meat. Given the vast coastlines along Mexico, seafood is also very popular and plentiful. It is often used in soups, tamales, and other dishes.
Some of the cuisine in Mexico has roots in the indigenous cultures, such as mole, which is a complex sauce that is popular in Oaxaca. The recipes for these indigenous foods were passed down by indigenous people, and the cuisine was developed before the Spanish and other cultures arrived in Mexico.
In addition to the cuisine in Mexico being regionally distinct, there are also culinary influences from other cultures. In Veracruz, the food is influenced by West African cultures due to the enslaved people who were brought to the city. Spanish influence can be seen in Mexican food, with ingredients that were brought to Mexico from Spain, such as tomatoes, garlic, and capers.
The music played in Mexico is influenced by its indigenous groups and music from other regions of the world, including Spain, the United States, and the Caribbean. The dominant genres of music in the country include those below:
Mariachi in Mexico
Various sports are popular in Mexico, some of which are also popular in other parts of Latin America, such as boxing, soccer, and baseball. Other sports that are popular in Mexico are unique to the country or are a variation of a sport from another country, such as bullfighting.
Lucha libre professionals
One such sport unique to Mexico is charrería, which was formed from the traditional practice of livestock herding. Another example is Lucha libre, a form of Mexican wrestling that is famous for its colorful masks that completely conceal the wrestlers' faces.
