5 Mexican Historical Highlights (with explanation)

A journey through the key moments of Mexico's history.

They say that to understand the present you have to know the past, and that is the importance of history in our lives. Each country offers, in addition to its culture and people, a legacy of facts that, besides being interesting, allow us to see the origins of its identity.

Here we will take a look at the most representative historical facts of Mexico that marked the course of its history and its place in the world.

The 5 most relevant historical facts of Mexico

From the first century A.D. to the last decades, the events that have marked the history of this country are fascinating and are a window to the understanding of its cultural richness and legacy to the world.

Construction of the pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacan.

Today, the pyramid of the sun is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic constructions in the world, the beginning of its construction dates back to the year I A.D. and is a reflection of the splendor of the culture that settled there.

It is believed that the arrival of the settlers to this city dates back to 100 BC. However, to this day the data on the ethnic origin of its inhabitants and the reason for its decline as a civilization as well as the abandonment of the ceremonial center are uncertain, enveloping this culture with a halo of mysticism.

The pyramid of the sun and the entire archaeological zone is still under constant investigation, even just a few months ago discoveries were made that could completely change the information that we had by discovering that cultures such as the Maya, lived there permanently, a fact that was completely ignored before this discovery.

For these reasons, the construction of the pyramid of the sun as a symbol of the civilization that settled there, which is full of enigmas, is one of the most interesting historical facts of Mexico.

2. Foundation of Tenochtitlan

In this important event of Mexico, legend is mixed with history. It is said that a tribe arrived to what today is Mexico City guided by the sign that their god Huitzilopochtli had revealed to them: they had to settle in the place where they saw an eagle on a cactus devouring a snake.

Being a passage of history covered by myth, there is no precise data on the founding of the city, however it has been established that it happened around the year 1325 or 1345.

This event is important because over the years the capital of the Mexica became the largest and most powerful of its time in the world and it was the most important city in the world. dominated much of Mesoamerica until the arrival of the Spaniards in Tenochtitlán.. This fact is linked to the arrival of Hernán Cortés to become two of the most relevant episodes in the history of Mexico.

3. The Conquest

In January 1517, Hernán Cortés arrived to the coasts of Yucatán to begin an expedition for exploration and commerce.However, upon his arrival and after several years of alliances, battles and strategies, in 1521 what is known as "The Conquest of Mexico" took place when he defeated what at that time was the most important capital: Tenochtitlan.

From that moment and in an official way, the Mexica people formed the first territory, which later with the conquest of the rest of Mexico. later with the conquest of the rest of the cultures would be known as the Viceroyalty of New Spain. and that would give rise to the mestizo Mexico characterized by the encounter of these two cultures.

For this reason, this event is one of the most representative in the history of Mexico, marking a before and after in the life, culture and organization of the country.

4. Mexican Independence

Another Mexican historical event took place almost 300 years after the Conquest, and it is the struggle for Mexico's independence.

Headed by the priest Miguel Hidalgoon September 15, 1810, the struggle to end Spanish rule over Mexico began and on September 27, 1821, with the triumphant entry of the Trigarante army, this struggle ended with the proclamation of independence.

However, it was not until 1836, after several attempts of reconquest, that Spain recognized the absolute independence of Mexico.

5. Mexican Revolution

After 35 years of a dictatorial government known as Porfiriato, the Mexican population rose up in arms to overthrow President Porfirio Díaz, who under his mandate achieved economic growth in the countryunder his mandate, the country's economic growth was achieved but at the expense of the social welfare of the most disadvantaged sectors, who were already in great discontent. The latter joined Francisco I. Madero's call to take up arms, making Porfirio Diaz resign and flee the country.

After this, when elections were held, Madero won, generating the discontent of other revolutionaries who did not see in the new president a solution to the demands of the majority of the people submerged in poverty, so the revolt would not end until the assassination of Francisco I. Madero. Madero, the succession of Victoriano Huerta and his eventual resignation due to the discontent of other caudillos such as Francisco Villa and Venustiano Carranza, who in 1917 promulgated the new constitution, thus ending this historical event in Mexico.

Bibliographical references:

• Clavijero, F. J. (1844). Historia antigua de México y de su conquista: sacada de las mejores historiadores españoles.... Digital library of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León: Imprenta de Lara.