Mexico has a long and glorious history stretching from thousands of years before the arrival of Hernán Cortés in the 1500's to the present day presidency of Ernesto Zedillo and his ruling party, the Institutionalized Revolutionary Party, or PRI.
This sketch hardly scratches the surface of Mexican history, so do as much additional reading on your own as you can before the summer begins.
It is important to keep in mind the extent to which Mexicans take pride in their history and culture, and although they might criticize it themselves, it is quite a different thing for criticism to come from foreigners, especially North Americans. While it is important and beneficial to have a knowledge of Mexican history and politics, be careful of judging too quickly and be aware of the people to whom you express your opinions.
History, Geography, & Culture.
Mexico, established as a sovereign nation in 1822, has its history rooted in the indigenous empires of the Olmec, Toltec, Mayan and Aztec populations who settled the land of the southern and western hemispheres from the time of 1500 BC.
During the period of the Spanish conquest, in the 1500's AD, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish "adventurer", landed in Mexico, which was at the time Aztec territory. He overthrew the then-Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, and declared Spanish rule. Within a few years of his arrival from Europe, the indigenous population of Mexico was dramatically reduced to below one million people, due mainly to new diseases brought from Europe. Mexico remained a Spanish colony for the next 300 years, and the indigenous population was reduced to a state of virtual slavery.
This history is reflected in the approximately 60% mestizo, 30% indigenous, and 10% European population which makes up Mexico today. The differences in languages and customs can be seen, heard, tasted and felt throughout the republic.
Mexico's past is also reflected in its present-day society in other ways.