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Mexico

History & Architecture

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History

Mexico's history begins with their ancient civilizations of the Mayans and Aztecs among others. These two groups created strong governments, cultures, communication, and architecture that still stands today. These cultures are still known for their monuments, like the ones in Chichen Itza or the city of Teotihuacan, but also for their incredible understanding of astrology and their tendency to sacrifice humans to appease the gods.

Despite the arrival of the Europeans and the incredibly quick fall of the native civilizations, modern day Mexico takes much of its culture and heritage from these ancient peoples. Most Mexicans have at least some native blood in them and the Mexican flag is taken from the Aztecs' (also known as Mexica) sighting of an eagle devouring a snake while standing on a cactus.

The European arrival also destroyed much of the local population as each group approached the other with hesitancy. The Spanish arrived en-force in modern-day Mexico in 1519 and the two groups saw the other as mystical. The Aztecs believed, according to their calendar, that the god Quetzalcoatl was to return from the east that year and when Cortez arrived on horseback it was believed he was Quetzalcoatl so the Aztecs let the Spanish into their city. On the other hand, the Spanish believed the Aztecs to be sub-human and didn't believe otherwise until Pope Paul III determined the Aztecs to be so in 1537.

The influence the Spanish had on Mexico was significant, beginning with the conversion of much of the local population to Catholicism. However soon after this conversion, the people weren't treated as equals so much as being treated like slaves as the Spanish began ruthlessly exploiting the local populations.

As chaos ensued in Europe, particularly war with France and Napoleon's eventual takeover of Spain, tensions rose in Mexico as the different groups fought over power until 1810 when Padre Miguel Hidalgo launched a rebellion for independence. After 11 years of fighting, Mexico won independence. However, from 1821 until the 1860 Mexico's political stability was non-existent and they were continuously invaded as they failed to control their lands.

Beginning in 1866 Mexico undertook a number of changes including greater access to education, better transportation networks, and improved healthcare, but during this time, free elections were stopped and in 1910 the Mexican Revolution broke out to remedy this, but not without first killing nearly15% of the country and destroying any stability the government once held.

From 1920 until today Mexico has been under strict government rule and the people have hardly had a chance at a fair election or any freedoms at all. This has caused emigration, particularly to the United States a growing concern for both Americans and Mexican alike.

Architecture

Although numerous early civilizations left behind small ruins in Mexico, architecture didn't make a truly lasting impact until the rise of the Mayans in about 100 AD. These people became very accomplished architects and builders and the earliest great monuments in the Americas today were left behind by these people, most of which are in modern day Mexico.

The first powerful center of the Mayans was at Teotihuacan (the "Place of the Gods"), which flourished until the 600s AD. Here the Great Pyramid of Cholula (the largest pyramid in the world; today it appears to be a large pyramid-shaped hill), the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon were built. In addition to these monuments a large city was built, including palaces, and much of it remains intact today. Although originally covered with stucco and paint, most of what is visible today is simply stone.

Despite the architecture of Teotihuacan, later monuments are largely considered more impressive, although they fall into a similar, descendant style. These sites include the ancient cities of Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Tikal (in modern day Guatemala). Chichen Itza is home to a pyramid now known as "Castillo," a true world wonder and the peak of Mayan architecture.

After the Mayan Empires declined in about 1250 the Aztecs rose to power and continued to build in a similar style as the late Mayans. By this point though architecture was on a decline as the Mayans and Aztecs were at war and most new construction by both groups was in the form of fortified walls and cities, including the cities of Mayapan, Tulum, Yagul.

By the early 1400s the Aztecs had essentially settled the region and took power, shifting architecture again. The Aztec capital during this time was in Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City), one of the world's largest cities. The architecture here was a combination of engineering feats and structures as the city was built on a lake consisting of islands (many of which were man made) as most transportation was undertaken by boat.

Mayan power fell with the arrival of Europeans. Unlike much of North America, Mexico fell under Spanish rule as they colonized the region in the 1500-1700s. Also unlike much of North America, the Spanish brought their architectural styles to their new colonies, including New Spain (Mexico). The first form of architecture they introduced was in city planning as nearly every city was built around a central square and streets were made with local stones. At the center of these squares were generally government offices and a church.

Due to Spanish colonization and the timing of their colonization, much of Mexico's architecture from the 1600s and 1700s is authentically Baroque (which arrived in the early 1600s). Among Mexico's finest Baroque architecture, the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (1573-1813) and the Sagrario Metropolitano (1749-1768) in Mexico City are perhaps the best examples as these building also inspired later constructions; buildings that were built primarily in the cities of Puebla, Guanajuato, Morelia and of course Mexico city itself.

Mexico City, as the capital of New Spain, received the greatest amount of new architecture under Spanish rule. The city is riddled with thousands of historical monuments, many of which are from this early colonial period and are in the Baroque style, or in a sub-style falling under the larger Baroque definition, like the Churrigueresque Style. However, it is probably the city of Puebla that the style is the most unique as tiles became commonplace and local materials give the buildings a different look from most of Mexico's Baroque architecture.

In about 1780-1800 the Spanish Baroque style ended in Mexico as the Neo-Classical style quickly took over. The School of Mines (1797-1813) in Mexico City and the church, El Carmen (1803-1807) in Celaya are among the most distinct. Like the Baroque style before it, the Neo-Classical style dominated the country through the 1800s.

Although the Neo-Classical style dominated the 1800s, the country was often in political rife and few buildings were constructed during this century. As the century came to a close there were multiple small movements that arose, most commonly in trying to imitate great European cities like Paris. This didn't introduce a new style so much as it introduced random buildings in various styles by numerous European architects. During this time the National Theater of Mexico (1904) and the Postal Palace (1902) were built among others.

In the 1930s the styles from Europe began to decline as domestic (primarily ancient Mayan and Aztec) influences took over, as did influences from other American countries. This happened to coincide with the modern movement as new materials and techniques were introduced, including concrete and glass. Among the local inspirations, most were built as monuments to past leaders of the country. The modern style made the greatest impact on the country's larger cities, including the capital as skyscraper and other modern and post-modern buildings are common place in Mexico City and other large cities.

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This page was last updated: March, 2013