Early Mexican Civilization

Getting to know some of Mexico's long and varied history will give both the serious and casual traveler a deeper respect, understanding and appreciation of the Mexican people and customs. This is also true for the potential retirees to Mexico; the degree to which one gets to knows the different culture the greater the potential for assimilation.

The southern portion of the North American continent we know today as Mexico has given rise to a number of very developed, and frequently militaristic, civilizations. The Aztecs and Mayans empires are undoubtedly the best known of these but other notable peoples, such as the Toltecs, Olmecs, and Zapotecs, have made their mark in various areas of Mexico. The Olmecs, considered to be the mother civilization" of Mesoamerica, were the first of these great civilizations, and rose to their peak of greatness in the years 1200 and 600BC along humid and hot Gulf coast.

The Olmecs

The Olmec Empire's demise coincided with the rise of the Izapans nation along the Pacific coast in the state of Chiapas. The Izapans are considered a link between the later Mayan civilization and the earlier Olemec. Much technology, art and religious beliefs of Izapan, with their Olmec influence, are also found in Mayan culture and society.

Mexican History Timeline

Teotihuacan and the Toltecs

At the beginning of the millennium the first great civilization of central Mexico emerged in Teotihuacan, at one time the largest city in Mesoamerica. During its height in the 6th century, Teotihuacan, located 32 miles (50km) northeast of modern day Mexico City, had a population estimated to have been 150,000 and 250,000 inhabitants. At its zenith the Teotihuacan Empire covered nearly two thirds of southern Mexico and all of Belize and Guatemala. Towards the end of the 7th century the Teotihuacan Empire was in full decline, the capital city sacked, burned, and abandoned. With the fall of Teotihuacon rule, Central Mexico was dominated by the Toltecs from the north. The Toltec fused the many other small states in Central Mexico into an empire ruled from their capital Tulancingo.

"In Mexico you have death very close. That's true for all human beings because it's a part of life, but in Mexico, death can be found in many things."
Gael Garcia Bernal