Mexico's early civilizations remain a source of pride to modern Mexicans. The pyramids of Teotihuacán, north of Mexico City, attest to the extraordinary achievement of a society that flourished around the same time as the Roman Empire, then mysteriously disappeared. The legacy of the great Maya civilizations continues to reverberate amongst its descendants on the Yucatán Peninsula and in southeast Mexico. These and other great civilizations had developed before the Aztecs established their empire at Tenochtitlán, the predecessor of modern Mexico City, and asserted their hegemony over central Mexico.
When the Spanish arrived on Mexico's Gulf Coast in 1517, the Aztec empire was in disarray and widely reviled by its far-flung subjects. This situation greatly facilitated the Spanish conquest of Mexico and within two years the European invaders had taken over the Aztec domains. Catholic missionaries arrived in the new Spanish colony to evangelize the masses of Indians. Thus were planted the seeds of the mestizaje, the blending of European and indigenous peoples and cultures that characterizes today's Mexico.
The three centuries of Spanish rule that followed were primarily devoted to exploiting the colony's vast silver reserves and enslaving the populace to that end. The ensuing decades of political instability culminated in the regime of Porfirio Díaz which modernized Mexico's industry and infrastructure while trampling the civil and economic rights of most Mexicans. This state of affairs sparked the Mexican Revolution (1910-20), a devastating conflict that ushered in a version of democratic government with a single political party, the PRI, at the helm for the next seven decades. Electoral reforms implemented by President Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000) facilitated the election of an opposition-party candidate, Vicente Fox, for the first time in the country's modern history.
Mexico celebrated the bicentennial of its independence from Spain in 2010 but remained preoccupied by a vicious conflict against and between bands of drug cartels. The tough stance advocated by current President Felipe Calderón has taken an unprecedented human toll and sadly tarnished the country's international image.
89% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant and 6% other denominations.
Social conventions:Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. Casual wear is acceptable during the day throughout Mexico. At beach resorts, clothing is very informal for men and women. In Mexico City, however, appearance tends to be smart in elegant restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, punishable by stiff fines and even a jail sentence - although smoking in bars and restaurants is permitted if they have separate rooms or outdoor areas.
Spanish is the official language (spoken by more than 90%). English is widely spoken. 8% speak indigenous languages, of which Nátinate is most common.
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