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Mexico

Estados Unidos Mexicanos (es)
United Mexican States (en)
Flag of Mexico Arms of Mexico
( Flag of Mexico ) ( Weapons of Mexico )
National motto : None
map
Official Languages Spanish ( de facto ) and 62 indigenous languages have the same value in all the Mexican territory
Capital Mexico
19 03'N 99 22'W / 19.05, 99367
Largest city Mexico
Form of State Republic Federal
- President
- Secretary
Government 		Felipe Caldern Hinojosa
Francisco Blake Mora
Area
- Total
- Water (%) 		Ranked 13 th
1,972,550 km 2
2,5
Population
- Total ( 2010 )
- Density 		Ranked 11 th
112 322 757 )
Currency Mexican Peso () ( MXN )
Time Zone UTC -6 to -8
National anthem Himno Nacional Mexicano
Internet domain . X
Indicative
Telephone 		+52


Mexico, officially United Mexican States , is a republic constitutional government of North America to presidential system located south of the United States , which is partly separated by the Rio Bravo , and bordered on the south by Guatemala and Belize. With more than 112 million people, including twenty million in the urban district of its capital , Mexico , Mexico's most populous country speaking Spanish.

It is the third in size and the second in population in Latin America.

In 2009, he is the twelfth largest economy with a GDP of 1,482 billion USD .

Summary

/ / Place names
Main article: Names of Mexico.
Myth of the founding of Mexico-Tenochtitlan ( Codex Mendoza ).

Prior to independence in the Viceroyalty of New Spain , it was decided that the country would take the name of its capital, Mexico. In fact, the name of the town was Mexico-Tenochtitlan , in reference to the tribe Aztec Nahuatl , the Mexica.

The name of the tribe itself is obscure. The Jesuit and historian Francisco Javier Clavijero argues in his writings that his name derives from the word Nahuatl Mexitl Mexitli or a secret name of god of war, tutelary deity of the Mexica , Huitzilopochtli. According to this theory, "Mexico" means "place . This version is based on an Aztec legend which says that when the Mexica arrived for the first time in Lake Texcoco, they saw the moon reflected in it.

The name of the city was transliterated into Spanish (Mexico) with the phonetic value of the x medieval Spanish, which represented the post-alveolar fricative consonant fricative / /, represented by aj, evolved into the fricative velar fricative / x / during the sixteenth century , which led to the use of alternative Mjico in many publications, mostly in Spain, while in Mexico, Mexico remained the preferred spelling. A few years ago, the Royal Spanish Academy , the institution regulating the Spanish language, ruled that the spelling in Spanish is recommended Mxico , and the majority of publications in all countries adhere Hispanics today with the new standard Even if the variant is sometimes encountered outdated . In French, the x in Mexico City and Mexico represents neither the original nor the current sound, but the consonant / k s /.

History

Main article: History of Mexico.

Pre-Hispanic Period

Main articles: Time prehispanic Mexico and Mesoamerica.
Los gemelos El Azuzul. Olmec culture , pre-classical way.
Mask of Pakal , Head of Palenque. Mayan Culture , Classical.

The territory has been discovered and inhabited by groups of hunter-gatherer nomads there are over 30,000 years. For thousands of years the people of this region of America engage in hunting and gathering until the discovery of agriculture. In Guile Naquitz were unearthed the oldest remains of the domestication of squash and gourd , dating from the 9th millennium BC. AD , but agriculture has developed at an early stage in places such as the Tehuacn Valley , where the domestication of maize occurred around the 5th millennium BC. AD. Therefore human groups of this region are becoming increasingly dependent on agricultural products, until the appearance of agricultural villages and up to the total dependence that takes place during the classical period . While agriculture is prosperous in Mesoamerica , the peoples in the north ( Chichimecs ) remain dependent on hunting and gathering.

Ruins Caverns las Jarillas. Paquim Culture , period average.
Temple of feathered serpents Xochicalco. Epiclassic.
Remains of the palace burned to Tula. Post-Classical recent.

The pre-Hispanic history of what is now northern Mexico is uncertain because the people who occupied the area had a limited material culture. These nomadic peoples who inhabited the desert, the coast and the mountains north of Mesoamerica did not share the same culture. The site of the Perra Cave ( Tamaulipas ) saw the invention of agriculture and known human presence from 12,000 BC. BC There are traces of nomadic peoples in places like the Cave of the Candelaria ( Coahuila , 8000 aC) , or El Conchalito ( Baja California-du-Sud ) . Also found in Baja California the rock paintings of Sierra de San Francisco whose function continues until the nineteenth century , when the last native disappear from the region.

Some authors take as a marker of early Mesoamerican civilization the controversial ceramic Pox Puerto Marqus, dated to the XXIV centuryBC. AD The Mesoamerican ceramics could be caused by contact between the South American coast of the Pacific and the west of Mesoamerica. New advanced techniques are spreading throughout the region so that centuries after it produces ceramics in other hamlets of ancient Preclassic (2500-1500 a. C.) as Chupcuaro and Tlatilco. During the Middle Preclassic (ss. XIV-IV BC.) The Olmec culture is spreading throughout Mesoamerica . After the decline Olmec, the simultaneous development of several peoples takes place. For example, the culture wells graves likely to influence South American , the epi-Olmec culture at Tres Zapotes , development of Izapa and development of the long count .

At the end of this stage, Teotihuacan is the largest city in the Valley of Mexico. During the Early Classic (ss. II-VI/VIII) the influence of Teotihuacan is felt throughout Mesoamerica , supported by its political and commercial . She had important allies, like Monte Albn in the central valleys of Oaxaca. Mesoamerican civilization extends further north in places like La Quemada. Cultural influences coming from the north visible in the Huasteca culture. The classical period is the time of consolidation of Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula and the highlands of Chiapas. On the other hand, in the valleys and mountains of the northern Sierra Madre Occidental to develop the culture Paquim , the result of the consolidation of agriculture in the northeast and the exchange between Mesoamerica and the Oasisamrique.

Between the tenth and twelfth centuries , Central Mexico is dominated by Tula , the capital of the Toltecs. The city has established strong links with many parts of Mesoamerica, but especially with the Yucatan peninsula , where the Maya city of Chichen Itza. In Oaxaca , at the same time, the Mixtec began an expansionary process that lead to occupy the central valleys inhabited by the Zapotec. In 1325 , the Aztecs founded Mexico City-Tenochtitlan , the capital of the state's largest known in Mesoamerica, which competed only with Tarascans of Tzintzuntzan.

Colonial Era

Hernan Cortes, conqueror of the Aztec Empire

In 1519 , the conquistadors , has many allies hostile tribes of the Aztecs whose Tlaxcaltecs and led by Hernan Cortes , set out to conquer the Aztec Empire with the quality of their weapons and their way of fighting, as well as numerical superiority of their native allies. 13 August 1521, the end of the siege of Tenochtitlan the Spaniards saw the victory and the end of the Aztec empire.

Cortes then embarks on the conquest of a vast colonial empire called New Spain. The territory will cover up a significant portion of the southern United States today (including California , the Arizona , the New Mexico and Texas ). The main Mexican cities are then created ( Mexico on the ruins of Tenochtitlan ), Guadalajara , Puebla and Monterrey.

After the Spanish colonization, missionaries arrived in the country to evangelize the people who survived the conquest. Among these evangelists, Bartolome de las Casas is distinguished by its desire to protect the indigenous population. From 1535 , the administration of New Spain is entrusted to a viceroy. The first is Antonio Mendoza , who was appointed by Charles V.

During this period, Spain has been enriched by mining (gold and silver) and agriculture (cultivation of sugar cane and coffee) while on a human level, the Indian population fell by 80% because of epidemics and forced labor. It is estimated that before the Spaniards arrived, central Mexico had 25 million inhabitants. There remained one million in 1650 .

The three centuries of Spanish rule (1521 - 1821) coincided with the establishment of Mexico as a nation Latin, Hispanic, Catholic and mestizo as we know it today . The architecture, cuisine, Mexican fiestas, and family structure are still largely influenced by these three centuries of Spanish rule , and the Mass St. Gregory, preserved in the Museum of the Jacobins d'Auch (Gers) .

Independence

On 15 September 1810 , since what is now the town of Dolores Hidalgo in the state of Guanajuato , a Creole , the priest Miguel Hidalgo , a national hero today, raises the cry of "Long live Mexico, long live the Virgin of Guadalupe , live Ferdinand VII , down with bad government! "(That is to say, that of Joseph Bonaparte , in power since the invasion of Spain by the French ), a motley and undisciplined army of villagers and indigenous people for the restoration of Ferdinand VII and against the Spanish juntas in French service. It starts successfully, but fails at the Monte de las Cruces, in its attempt to Mexico , and will be implemented in 1811. The movement is launched and others take over. The Creoles (Spaniards born in Mexico, without much political and economic power) are at the head of the mestizos and natives who form the bulk of the troops against the gachupines (literally "bearing spurs"), Spaniards born in the metropolis, holders of political power and economic functions that were reserved for profit. The first act of independence was signed on 6 November 1813. It was titled a href = "% C3% Acte_solennel_de_la_d A9claration_d 27ind%%% C3% A9pendance_de_l 27Am% C3% A9rique_septentrionale & action = edit & RedLINK = 1" class = "new" title = "solemn act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America (non-existent page)"> Act solemn declaration of independence of North America , . The Act of Independence of Mexico will be finally signed on 28 September 1821.

Among the triggers of the independence movement, the French conquest and occupation of Spain in the early nineteenth century , by the troops of Napoleon and the rise of liberal ideas in Spain have an important role. With independence, the Creoles were able to become masters of the country by accessing all the functions previously reserved for Spaniards War of the Pastries

Several countries .

Mexican-American War

Main article: Mexican-American War.

In 1836 , the Texas proclaimed its independence from Mexico. It will be later annexed by the United States. In 1846 , Mexico claimed the territory between the Rio Bravo and Rio Nueces. Indeed, the boundary of the province was the Rio Nueces Texas situated 300 km north of the Rio Bravo. Hence the war broke out between Mexico and the United States and lasts from 1846 to 1848.

U.S. troops invaded and occupied the country from 1847 to 1848. After the Battle of Chapultepec , September 14, 1847, U.S. troops hoisted the American flag on the National Palace: Mexico City is busy. Under the control of Winfield Scott 's troops are running many soldiers of Irish Saint Patrick Battalion , deserters from the U.S. Army , who collaborated with the Mexican resistance against the occupier French Intervention

Study for The Execution of Maximilian by Edouard Manet depicting the killing of Maximilian of Hapsburg , the infantry commander Miramn and General Toms Meja by the Republican pack.

In 1861 , the government of Jurez decided to suspend payment of its foreign debt. La France , one of Mexico's creditors, invokes the motif of debts to intervene militarily with the support of the former colonial power of Spain and the UK. Taking advantage of the civil war and absorb the resources of northern neighbor, Napoleon III , with the blessing of the pope, thought to establish an empire in Mexico "Latin" and Catholic counterbalance the growing power of the Anglo-Saxons The Presidency of Porfirio Daz: El Porfiriato

Porfirio Diaz

Heroes of the war against the French, Porfirio Daz became president of Mexico in 1876. His presidency lasted until 1911 , bringing a long period of calm , .

Madero resume cleverly Daz old slogan "effective suffrage, no reelection" for his political campaign.

1910 Revolution

Main article: Mexican Revolution.
Emiliano Zapata

Porfirio Daz , in power for thirty years, wanted to attend the presidential election of 1910 as Francisco Madero. Daz Madero was imprisoned and then released him. Diaz was victorious in elections. Madero gathering only a few hundred votes across the country. Many people took the view that there was blatant fraud, and rebelled. Thus began the Mexican civil war , also called Mexican Revolution.

During the Mexican Revolution, Diaz had to face several rebellions, including that of Francisco Villa in the north and Emiliano Zapata primarily in the State of Morelos. In 1911, after the capture of Ciudad Juarez , Diaz, who wanted to avoid a civil war chose to go into exile in France.

The revolution then degenerated into a power struggle between revolutionaries. President Madero (revolutionary) was assassinated by Victoriano Huerta (reactionary) himself hunted by the troops of Francisco Villa. Zapata was assassinated in 1919, Carranza, the intellectual author of the assassination of Zapata in 1920, and Francisco Villa in 1923 on the orders of Obregn.

The revolution will end officially in 1917, when the new Mexican constitution, but the violence lasted until 1930 (murder of Alvaro Obregon by a Catholic fanatic in 1928). Another wave of violence following the implementation of measures contained in the secularization of the 1917 Constitution and implemented by the government in 1926: the Cristero war.

Contemporary Period

With the death of Obregon, Plutarco Elias Calles became Jefe maximo de la Revolucin. In March 1929, he founded the Partido Nacional Revolucionario in order to control and monitor the various political currents and appoint himself to head the party. In order to avoid conflicts between generals, he did appoint a President of the Republic Civil Emilio Portes Gil for the period from 1928 to 1930. Calles had to struggle against a conspiracy of military obregon led by Jose Gonzalo Escobar called out of power plan Hermosillo. The 1930s were marked by the presidency of Crdenas from 1934 to 1940, which proposed to make Mexico a socialist country and of nationalization . On August 9 , a partial recount was conducted where irregularities have been proven , leading to official confirmation of the result by the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Mexico.

Mexico is a republic government composed of 31 states and one Federal District. The separation of three powers ( executive , legislative and judicial ) is guaranteed by the Constitution of 1917.

Executive power

The Chief Executive is the President of the Republic, elected for a period of 6 years, not renewable, direct universal suffrage for a single tower and a relative majority. There is no prime minister. The president appoints and dismisses ministers, the Attorney General (Minister of Justice), ambassadors and consuls general. In case of resignation or death, Congress appoints an interim president. The president may issue decrees in the area through economic and financial powers delegated to the Congress Legislative power

The Congress is divided into two chambers:

  • The Senate : Senators are elected every 6 years. The Senate has 128 senators, 4 senators by federal entity. In 2000 , the Senate was dominated by the PRI with 60 seats, followed by the PAN with 46 and finally 15 for the PRD. The remaining senators are either independent or belong to other smaller parties .

Since 1997 , the Congress plays a larger role since the opposition won more seats through the designation of 200 parliamentary seats elected by proportional representation.

Federated States

Main article: States of Mexico.

Mexico has 31 states and one federal district:

Geography

Main article: Geography of Mexico.
Topographic Map of Mexico

Mexico is a country located in North America. It shares land borders with the USA (3326 km) north and with the Belize (193 km) Relief

Mexico is crossed by two major mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. Sierra Madre Occidental to the west is a continuation of the Sierra Nevada of California and the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east is the continuation of the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico and Texas. Between the two main mountain ranges lies the Mexican plateau. The Cordillera neovolcanic marks the southern boundary of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental. Mexico also has other smaller mountain ranges like the chain in California, Sierra Madre del Sur, Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and the Meseta Central de Chiapas.

Major mountain ranges and main board:

  • The Sierra Madre Occidental extends 1,250 km to 50 km south of the border with the United States and joined the Cordillera neovolcanic after the Rio Santiago. The Cordillera neovolcanic crosses central Mexico from east to west. In the north, the Sierra Madre Occidental is located about 300 km from west coast but close to the Cordillera neovolcanic it is only 5 km from the Pacific coast. Sierra Madre Occidental is about 2250 meters above sea level with peaks reaching 3000 meters.
  • The Sierra Madre Oriental begins at the border between Texas and Mexico and continues to 1350 km to reach the Cofre de Perote, one of the main peaks of the Cordillera neovolcanic. As the Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental gradually approached the coast, approaching the southern end. Indeed, it is more then 75 km's from the Gulf of Mexico. Sierra Madre Oriental is about 2200 meters above sea level with peaks reaching 3000 meters.
  • The Mexican plateau extends also to the border with the United States until the Cordillera neovolcanic and occupies an extensive area between the Sierra Madres Occidental and Oriental. The plate was divided in the past between the Mesa del Norte and Mesa Centra, however today geographers consider these two parts as belonging to the same plateau.
    • The northern plateau is about 1100 meters above sea level and stretches from the Rio Bravo to the State of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi State. The region has numerous depressions which the largest is the Bolson de Mapimi.
    • The southern plateau is the highest since approximately 2000 meters. It includes numerous valleys that were formed by ancient lakes. Several of the largest Mexican cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara are located in these valleys.
  • The Cordillera neovolcanic is a belt 900 km long and 130 km wide that extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Cordillera begins at Rio Bravo and continues south to Colima , where it runs east along the 19th parallel to finish the center of the state of Veracruz. The region is characterized by seismic activity and counts the highest volcanic peaks. The Cordillera has three peaks over 5,000 meters: Pico de Orizaba ( Orizaba Peak ) or Citlatpetl which is the third highest peak in North America, the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl both of which are near Mexico. Neovolcanic Cordillera is considered the geological division between North America and Central America.

River

The Rio Bravo or Rio Grande

Mexico has about 150 rivers. The 2 / 3 of the latter flowing into the Pacific Ocean and 1 / 3 in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Despite the apparent abundance of water, the volumes of water are distributed in very unequal across the country. Indeed, five rivers (the Usumacinta, the Grijalva, the Papaloapan, the Coatzacoalcos and Pnuco) totaled 52% of the average annual volume of water. These five rivers (currently very polluted) draining into the Gulf of Mexico. Only the Rio Panuco is not in the Mexican southeast. North and Central Mexico, covering 47% of the territory and Nearly 60% of the population have less than 10% of the country's water resources.

Mexico has few navigable rivers.

The Rio Grande is called Rio Bravo del Norte by the Mexicans.

Climate

The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two zones, one temperate ( humid subtropical climate ) and the other in tropical climate. The climate varies with altitude. The tierras calientes (hot lands), including the coastal plains up to about 915 meters. North of the 24th parallel, temperatures are cooler during the winter months, while in the south, they remain constant throughout the year. However, they vary according to altitude.

Areas south of 27th parallel:

  • Up to 1000 meters (the coasts and the peninsula of Yucatan ) has an average temperature between 24 C and 28 C. The temperature remains high throughout the year with only 5 C difference between the average winter temperatures and summer.
  • Between 1000 and 2000 meters: the average temperature is between 16 C and 20 C. The towns and villages at this altitude in the south of the 24th parallel have a relatively constant climate and pleasant temperatures throughout the year, while areas north have a climate more pronounced seasonal variations.
  • Above 2000 meters: the average temperature is between 8 C and 12 C in the Cordillera neovolcanic.

Rainfall varies greatly depending on location and season. Arid or semi-arid Baja California, northwestern Sonora, the plateaus of northern and part of the plateau to the south. It rains in these regions averages between 300 and 600 millimeters per year. In the highlands of South and particularly the most populated regions (such as Mexico City and Guadalajara ) it rains on average between 600 and 1000 mm. The lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico receive more than 1 000 mm of rainfall a year. The area southeast of Tabasco receives approximately 2000 mm of rainfall a year. It snows occasionally on some of the northern plateaux and high mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental.

Wet season or rainy season:

Mexico is experiencing a wet season (or rainy season) and a dry season marked. The rainy season in most of the country from June to mid-October. It rains much less the rest of the year. February and July are respectively the driest month and wetter. For example, Mexico City gets about 5 millimeters of rain in February and 300 mm in July. Coastal areas, especially the Gulf of Mexico receive their maximum rainfall in September. Tabasco recorded over 300 mm of rainfall during this month.

A small portion of the northwest coast of Mexico around the city of Tijuana has a Mediterranean climate with significant haze and a rainy season in winter.

Hurricanes:

Mexico is located in the hurricane belt and all coastal areas are susceptible to these storms from June to November. The hurricanes of the Pacific coast are less frequent and often less violent than those affecting the east coast. Several hurricanes hit the coast every year in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, with winds that can exceed 200 km / h, endangering the lives of people and causing extensive damage to hotels and homes in the area Biodiversity

A Lepisosteus , a species endemic to Mexico.
A Jaguar , a mammal present in Mexico.

Mexico is one of 17 mega-diverse countries identified in July 2000 by the UN program for the environment . With 200,000 different species, Mexico hosts 10 to 12% of global biodiversity .

Mexico is the first country in number of species of reptiles with 707 known species, second in number of mammal species with 438 species, fourth in number of species of amphibians with 290 species and fourth in number of species plants . This country has some 1 086 species of birds, including 101 endemic . Mexico is also considered the second country in ecosystems and fourth in total number of species . Nearly 2,500 species are protected by Mexican law . The Mexican government established the Sistema Nacional de Informacin acerca of Biodiversidad, who undertakes to study and promote the use of substantial ecosystem.

Mexico, 170 000 km are regarded as protected natural areas. 34 biosphere reserves (unaltered ecosystems), 64 national parks , 4 natural monuments, 26 areas to protect flora and fauna, 4 areas for natural protection and 17 sanctuaries (including an area rich in species diversity) .

Economy

Main article: Economy of Mexico.

Macroeconomic Aggregates

GDP 2005 (Price and PPP current): 1 006 billion (estimate)
GDP per capita. : 9 600
Source: OECD - List of countries by GDP

Oil and Gas


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