Our neighbor to the south has many mountainous regions
as well as . Most Mexicans live in the , where the capital city of Mexico City is located. The
is covered with rain forests, receiving rain
year-round.
Mexico's Past
The first people to settle Mexico were from different Indian
groups, including the and the Aztec. In the 1520s, Spain
had conquered all of Mexico, and Mexico became a Spanish
. During Spain's rule, the Indians and were not
treated well. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo led the Indians and mestizos in a rebellion against the Spanish; the war lasted 11 years.
Mexico won its freedom from Spain in 1821. In the years ahead,
there were many revolutions and civil wars in Mexico, and it lost
half of its territories to the United States in the .
Finally, in 1917 Mexico became a federal republic and had a
new .
Mexico Today
Mexico is made up of both native and Spanish cultures.
is the national language, but there are more than 15
Indian languages that are spoken. It exports most of its
manufactured goods and products to the . Its
ancient cities, beaches, and resorts make it a popular place for
.