Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was Mexico’s president, dictator and general for many decades. His imprint on the nation’s character and history is indelible to this day, and his importance in the formational period of the Mexican identity can be compared to only a few.

Santa Anna was president of Mexico at various intervals for a total of 22 years. He was the epitome of Byzantine politics at his time. He first fought for Mexican indepndence against Spain with his compatriots, and then fought with Spain against those he disliked.

He justified his later despotism on the basis that the Mexican were not yet prepared for liberty. They were uneducated, helpless peasants dominated by the Catholic clergy, and only a progressive dictatorship would suit the needs of the Mexican people at that time, according to his declarations at various time.

Today Santa Anna is remembered as an important but controversial figure in Mexico’s early history as an independent nation.

The pre-Columbian era refers to the advances and achievements of the proud peoples of Mexico prior to the advent of European culture and technology. Stretching through thousands of years, the legacy of this long period is still felt throught the art, culture, politics, and social development of the nation.

From the Olmecs, right up to Aztecs, Mexico has been a cradle of civilizations. The causes of this unexpected flourishing has been a source of bewilderment for many scientists, but it appears that climate and the natural environment played the greatest role in allowing social stratification, and intellectual development. In any case, the results are clearly layed out before our eyes whenever we visit Mexico.

Pre-Columbian culture is not limited to Mexico, but some of its greatest achievements are to be found in the borders of the nation. No doubt, you’ll find your share of the exploration exciting and rewarding too.

Maya Blue, that beautiful, mysterious hue popular with Maya artists for many centuries, has been puzzling the scientists seeking its origins for many years now. Recent discoveries shed new light to the first people known to appreciate this pigment, and more and more knowledge is being gained with the passing of every day. 

Photo by Stonehousestudio, via Flickr.com

Recent studies by mineralogists, and archaeologists have confirmed that the origin of Maya blue is to be sought in Mexico. Extensive studies have already shown that the Palgorskite clay used in the creation of this color had been used by the native villagers and craftsmen for centuries before the arrival of the Spanish.

Photo by Give-on via Flickr.com

Churches, cathedrals, towers and palaces, monasteries dot the landscape of  young Mexico. Indeed, the youth of this nation hides its oldest treasures which were created as the ancient Spanish customs, a result of their mixing with the Moors and Europeans, were infused into the fertile landscape of the New World.

Mexican architecture is solemn, monumental, and inspiring. It competes with the beauty of the landscape and the green scenery of the the country in terms of its allure and appeal. Wherever you go, you’ll meet some samples, and you’ll never be disappointed.

 

The Olmec were the first Mexican civilization of which there exists evidence today. Its creators lived in the tropical lowlands in Veracruz and Tabasco, and flourished between 1400 BCE to about 400 BCE. The earliest settlements that evince signs of the Olmec civilization are found within the city of San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan.

Today the hallmark of the Olmecs is their art which has reached us in various forms, including sculptures, pottery, altars and stelae. The colossal heads found scattered across Mexico are perhaps the most widely-recognized signature of the Olmec civilization.

Many of the artifacts that remain from Olmecs are made of materials like jade, obsidian and magnetite, the sources of which are far away from the Olmec heartland. This phenomenon suggests that there was a wide-reaching trade network in Mesoamerica, comparable to its counterpart in Mesopotamia or North Africa at the time.

There’s so much to amaze and fascinate about this ancient people. But those who wish to see it for themselves will make the most of the experience in Mexico itself.