EIL Intercultural Learning

History

Between 1000 BC and 1200 AD a series of related cultures with specific features emerged in Mesoamerica building up civilizations that still impact Mexican life nowadays. The Olmec World, the Teotihuacan era, the Toltec and the Mexica (wrongly called Aztec) Empire are only the most powerful and possibly best known cultures, and they deserved by themselves a complete study.

The 16th Century is known as the Century of Conquest because Mexico became a Spaniard Colony. The Colony lasted almost three hundred years, till September 1820 when after ten years of war independence was achieved.

While trying to set up a Parliamentary Republic in the 19th Century, Mexico had to fight back invasions from the USA, in 1848, and from France in 1864. Even these episodes slowed down the constitution of a new Republic; they also enriched the cultural, artistic and intellectual trends of the new nation fortifying the liberal thoughts of the growing middle class.

Between 1910 and 1920 the Revolution War took place. This war originally had the intention to get rid of Porfirio Diaz, a dictator that had remained in power more than thirty years, but ended up as a struggle among classes trying to deal with social issues such as poverty and inequality, and defined the politics and economy of the country for the rest of the 20th Century.

In 2000 the Presidential Election was won by the PAN candidate finishing with 75 years of PRI ruling. 2006 Presidential Elections have been highly controversial and despite the fact a Federal Elections Tribunal declared them clean and non-fraudulent, the third largest party in the country has not accepted the designation of the new President and started a civil resistance movement. The situation has highlighted unsolved social problems such as poverty, inequity and insecurity.

Mexico is a Federal, representative and democratic Republic governed by three powers: the Executive, with a President as headmaster; the Legislative, divided in two chambers: Deputies and Senators; and the Judiciary, headed by a Supreme Court.

Geography

Mexico is located in the North of the American Continent. It shares borders, to the North with the USA, and to the Southeast with Guatemala and Belice. The Rio Bravo, part of the natural border with the USA, ends in the Gulf of Mexico in the east, while the west shores of the country face the Pacific Ocean. Mexico is divided in six regions for economic and touristic purposes:

In the Northern part of Mexico, heat is extreme during summer months reaching 45ºC in some areas during the day. In winter time temperatures can drop below zero at night. The stunning landscape is characterized by vast desert and dry mountain ranges. Most of the colonial cities in the North shine with pink-stone buildings and lived their best times during the 19th century mining exploitation period. Nowadays important industrial areas and very modern cities attract workers from the south of the country. This area includes the States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

In what is so called "the heartland" of Mexico, or Central Mexico, valleys and mountains define the landscape and the climate of the region. Forests, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, springs and caves attracted the founding of important centers for trading, mining exploitation, cattle breeding and metal, wood and stone work. With temperatures between 30º and 20ºC during the summer, and sometimes below zero in winter nights, Central Mexico gathers most of the natural and cultural richness of the country, and attracts most of the labor age population of it. The oldest universities of Mexico are settled in this region, and UNESCO has declared a large numbers of cities of the following States, World Heritage Sites: Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Morelos, Estado de Mexico, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosi, Tlaxcala and Mexico City, or Federal District.

The Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean bathe the Southern region of Mexico, originating one of the most astonishing ecosystems of the World. Rich in natural resources, culture and traditions, and with a semi tropical and tropical climate (temperatures over 25ºººC) Veracruz, Tabasco and Chiapas hosted two of the most important native groups in Mesoamerica, the Olmecs and the Mayas. Its mangrove swamps, jungles and forests, important archeological sites and busy commercial harbors attract a large number of tourists, but had not been good magnets for long term agricultural or industrial investment.

The Yucatan Peninsula is formed by the States of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, and it is world known because of its Mayan heritage, astonishing landscapes and submerged caverns (cenotes). The Peninsula is located in the southeastern part of the Country, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Its coastal wetlands and inland forests provide habitat for species in danger of extinction such as: jaguars, manatees, howler monkeys, leatherback sea turtles and pumas. Tourism development and inappropriate waste management endanger also extensive natural reservoirs and off shore reefs. There are the reasons why a number of international and national ONG's work along with Government initiatives to prevent more damage in the region .

The Pacific Coast region is located in western Mexico; it includes the States of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca. The hot and tropical climate of the beaches, cool down in the mountains and valley regions of the mountain range (Sierra Madre) in the south. The region is quite popular thanks to tourist resorts such as Manzanillo, Acapulco and Huatulco, archaelogical sites as Mitla and Monte Alban, or the production of tequila and dark chocolate. Its native indigenous richness is also recognized worldwide. Zapotecas, Mazatecas, Coras and Huicholes keep their traditions and artistic heritage fighting against poverty and social inequity.

In the northwest, the Baja California Peninsula comprises two States: Baja California and Baja California Sur, that share one of the most diverse geographical areas in the country. Magnificent desert landscapes, semi-tropical and pine forests, popular beaches and not very known mountain ranges shape a distant territory where vineyards tours and gray whale watching attract many visitors all year around. Nature reserves, cave murals and old missionary tracks attract also naturalists, sociologists and archaeologists interested in preserving an environment threatened by an increase of fancy resorts and the establishment of foreign owned-factories.

Religion

Mexicans, mainly in rural areas but also in big cities, can be very religious. Catholic symbols such as the Christian Crucifix and the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe can be found in surprising places such as: taxis sites, public offices, buses, altars in corners or stores.

Most families attend church services every weekend, some others just in special occasions so it is important to respect the way families or communities live their religious life. Festivities like the Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12) would gather whole communities in processions and parties to celebrate the Virgin's birthday. Those festivities are more than a religious expression, are mirrors of the cultural and social heritage of communities.

In the other hand certain displays of devotion in pilgrimage sites can seem too extreme for visitors: people in their bare knees approaching an altar, people walking very long distances carrying heavy logs, etc.

Some celebrations are given a "didactic focus" to be able to include all kids from the village regardless of religion. Awareness to religious differences, if found, would be strongly suggested.

Climate

Average temperatures are 25º to 30 º C. May and September are very warm months, mainly in the coasts regions. From October to early May temperatures get colder. Rainy season vary in each region.