History of Mexico:

Mexico located in southern portion of North America. It had complex civilizations before being
conqured by spainish in 16th Century. From 1519 the Spanish People also called (Spainards)
absorbed and combines the Mexican Civilizations with Euorpe Culture. That is the reason
Mexico is both most populous Spanish-Speaking country in the world and home for most
american languages. For three centuries Mexico was a part of Spanish Empire, whoose legacy is
with a Spanish-Speaking, Catholic and largely western Culture. After struggle (1810-1821)
Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1821 in result of Mexican War of Independence
which was signed on August 24, 1821 in city Cordoba . The (1821-1823) period called First
Mexican Empire which was followed by the foundings of Republic of Mexico established under
a fedral constitution in 1824. The (1824-1835) period was the First Mexican Republic and the
first president was Guadalupe Victoria. In First Mexican Republic the Legislature was Congress,
Upper house was Senate and Lower House was Champer of Desputies. In 1836 Texas declares
its independence from Mexico. Mexicans and Texans battle at the Alamo and San Jacinto (About
630 of the Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured, while only nine Texans died). In 1848
The U.S. wins the Mexican-American War and gains Mexican territory. The land includes what
are now Nevada and Utah, plus parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado. In 1862
Battle of Puebla. The Cinco de Mayo holiday honors this national army defeat of French
invaders. In 1910 The Mexican Revolution begins when citizens rise up against oppressive
rulers. A new constitution is adopted in 1917. In 1968 Mexico City hosts the first Olympic
Games ever held in Latin America . In 1985 An earthquake of magnitude 8.1 strikes Mexico City.
Nearly 10,000 people are killed. In 1994 A violent rebellion breaks out in Chiapas. Unrest
continues today. In 2000 Vicente Fox is sworn in as the first president elected who did not belong
to the ruling party. In 2006 U.S. President George W. Bush signs a law that authorizes the
building of a 700-mile fence between Mexico and the U.S. in order to help stop illegal
immigration. In 2007 More than 500,000 people are left homeless after heavy rains cause
flooding in the southern state of Tabasco. In 2012 Enrique Pea Nieto wins the presidential
election and takes office on December 1.

Geography:
Location:

Mexico really called United Mexican States and called New Spain because they won
their independence from Spain.Mexico is loacted at about 23 N and 102 in the southern portion
of North America. It is also located in a region known as Middle America.Mexico is bounded to
the north by the United States to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by the Gulf
of Mexico, and to the southeast by Belize, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea.It is 5th largest
country in America covering 2 million square km. It is the 13th largest independence nation in the
world and its estimated population is 113 million.

Climate and Topography:

The total area of Mexico is 1,972,550 km of which 1,923,040 km is Land and 49,510 km is
Water. Along the coast (on both sides of the country) it is hot and humid, unbearably so in the
summer. Almost two-thirds of the country consists of plateaux and high mountains with a climate
that is warm-temperate; other parts have a tropical climate with temperature reduced by altitude.
In winter cold waves, or 'northers', can bring near-freezing conditions for a few days to the east
coast as far south as Tampico or Veracruz. Coasts are Hot and humid; can be subject to
hurricanes during hurricane season (see below for details). The hottest months are April & May
in the South, and July to September on Pacific Coast (Including Baja), and extremely hot in the
Yucatan May to September.The Coolest Months Vary by region, but generally December,
January, February; the Yucatan can still experience hot weather even in the coolest months.Rainy
Season in Mexico: Mexico's Rainy season runs from May to September (sometimes extends to
October) each year. Most regions south of the Tropic of Cancer (near Mazatlan) are affected.
Rain storms usually arrive in the late afternoon accompanied by thunder and lightning, creating
torrential downpours before passing and leaving the evenings dry and cooled off.Hurricane
Season in Mexico: June, July, August, September, October (sometimes extends into November):
Can affect weather on the Yucatan Peninsula, (e.g. Cancun), as well as weather on Mexico's
Pacific coast, from Baja California southwards.

Nature and Economic Growth:

The economy of Mexico is the 14th largest in the world in nominal terms and the 10th largest by
purchasing power parity, according to the IMF. Since the 1994 crisis, administrations have
improved the country's macroeconomic fundamentals. The economy contains rapidly developing
modern industrial and service sectors, with increasing private ownership. Recent administrations
have expanded competition in ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation,
natural gas distribution and airports, with the aim of upgrading infrastructure. As an exportoriented economy, more than 90% of Mexican trade is under free trade agreements (FTAs) with
more than 40 countries, including the European Union, Japan, Israel, and much of Central and
South America. The most influential FTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), which came into effect in 1994, and was signed in 1992 by the governments of the
United States, Canada and Mexico. The population growth rate of Mexico is 1.21% and the birth
and death rate are 19.02/1000 and 5.25/1000. The life expectancy of Mexican people are 72.67
years for male and for female 78.32 years. The GDP of mexico is 1.845 trillion, the GDP growth
rate is 1.2% and per capita income is 15,600 and savings are 21% of GDP. The composition of
GDP is 3.6% agriculture, 36.6% industries and 59.8% services. The major agriculture products
are corn, wheat, soyabeans, rice, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatos, beef, poultary, dairy products and
wood products. The major industries are food and beverage, tobacco, chemicals, iron, steel,
petroleum, mining, textile, cloting, motor vehicles. The electricity production of Mexico is 296
billion KWH and consumption is 212.30 billion KWH. The natural gas production is 53.93

billion cusic and consumption is 59.15. The exports and imports are $370.90 billion and $370.6
billion.

Values of the Mexican people

Mexicans put a high value on hierarchy and structure in business and family matters. Especially
outside of cities, families are typically large and Mexicans are very conscious of their
responsibilities to immediate family members and extended family such as cousins and even
close friends. Hosting parties at their homes plays a large part of Mexican life and making
visitors feel comfortable is a large part of the values and customs of the country. Most Mexican
families are highly traditional, with the father as the authority figure. While more women are
working outside of the home in the past several decades, there are still a large number of women
who work exclusively in the home. The country remains a male-centric society, and machismo, a
word derived from Mexican and Portuguese meaning male supremacy, is prevalent. Mexicans
revere people in authority, including educators and medical professionals.

Introduction
Mexicans make several cultural subdivisions within the nation. The most common one identifies
northern, central, and south or south-eastern Mexico. The extensive and desertlike north was
only sparsely populated until the middle of the twentieth century, except for some important
cities such as Monterrey. It has traditionally housed only small indigenous populations and is
generally regarded as a frontier culture. Densely populated central and western Mexico is the
cradle of the nation. Highly developed Indian cultures populated this region in pre-Columbian
times and it was also the heart of the colony of New Spain. Many prominent colonial cities are
major urban and industrial centers today. Southern Mexico has a tropical or subtropical climate
and some rain forest. It is characterized by a strong indigenous heritage and is also the poorest
part of the country. Another relevant cultural division is that between the central template
highlands (the altiplano) and the much more humid mountainous regions (the sierras) and coastal
plains. In many parts of Mexico this division parallels the relative presence of indigenous
populations, with the sierra regions being the most indigenous. On a smaller scale the Mexican
nation has traditionally been characterized by strong provincial and local cultural identities.
People identify closely with their own state; stereotypes about people from other places abound.
Strong regional and local identities have given rise to the idea that there exist "many Mexicos."
Nevertheless, even though Mexican culture is diverse, there is also a strong identification with
the nation-state; nationalism is vigorous.

Linguistic Affiliation.

Spoken by more than 95 percent of the population, Spanish is the official language of Mexico
and was introduced through conquest and colonization. Mexican Spanish has its roots in the
Spanish of Spain. In terms of grammar, syntax, and spelling there are no important differences
between the two, but the pronunciation and sound are different. Certain words from the principal
Indian language (Nahuatl) are incorporated into Mexican Spanish, especially in the domains of
food and household. Some of these words have also been incorporated into other languages such
as the English 'chocolate' from the Nahuatl 'chocolatl'. The national culture of Mexico boasts
sixty-two indigenous languages. In 1995 at least 5.5 million people spoke an indigenous
language. The level of bilinguism, however, was high at 85 percent.

Symbol
The most important icon of
the Virgin of Guadalupe, which
influence
of
Roman
culture. She is viewed as the

Mexican national culture is

illustrates
the
pervasive
Catholicism in the national
"mother" of all Mexicans.

Mexican clothing
In the cities, fashion in Mexico is influenced by international trends, so the typical urban
Mexican dresses similar to people in Europe and the United States. In more rural areas, a typical
womans wardrobe includes skirts, sleeveless tunics called huipils, capes known as
quechqumitls and shawls called rebozos. One distinguishing article of traditional mens clothing
is a large blanket cape called a sarape. Boots are also a wardrobe staple. Some traditional
clothing, now typically worn for celebrations and special occasions, include sombreros and the
charro suits worn by Mariachi bands that are popular costumes during Carnival.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions.

There are numerous religious and secular occasions in Mexico that are accompanied by special
food. A popular religious fiesta is the Da de la Candelaria (Candlemas) on 2 February, which
celebrates the purification of Mary and the presentation and blessing of Jesus. After the church
ceremony family and close friends join for tamales . During the Day of the Dead, 2 November,
people consume pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a long and flat sweet bread prepared with
many eggs and sugar. At Christmas people eat romeritos , a plant similar to rosemary served with
sauce and potatoes; bacalao , dried codfish cooked and served in a sauce of tomatoes, olives, and
onions; and all sorts of stuffed turkey. In September people commemorate independence and, in
central Mexico, eat a sophisticated dish called chile en nogada , a stuffed chile poblano dressed
with a white walnut sauce, red pomegranate, and green parsley, in a representation of the
Mexican flag.

Classes and Castes

Mexico has a very unequal distribution of wealth, even compared to other Latin American
countries. With the introduction of neoliberal economic policies, inequalities have sharpened. In
1998, the top 20 percent of income earners accounted for 55 percent of Mexico's income, while
an estimated 27 percent of the population was living below the poverty line. The size of the
middle classes has shrunk in recent years. Although poverty and marginalization are widespread,
they are particularly strong in central and southern Mexico and especially in rural areas. An
official marginalization index that includes income levels and the availability and quality of
services (such as drinking water, sewage, and education) indicates that the smallest settlements
are the most underprivileged. There is a correlation between socioeconomic hierarchy and
ethnicity. Among the poorest segments of the population a strong presence of Indian groups can
be found. In 1995, almost all communities whose populations were comprised of more than 40
percent native language speakers suffered from high degrees of marginalization. This strongly
contrasts with the wealthiest segments of the Mexican population, which are predominantly
made up of whites.

Symbols of Social Stratification

Class differences are marked in Mexico and are expressed symbolically in numerous ways.
Wealthy Mexicans live in neighborhoods that are sealed off by armed private

Marriage system
Mexicans are free to choose their marriage partners. Informally, however, there are rules that
constrain choices, most importantly those related to class and ethnicity. People usually marry
after a period of formal engagement that can last several years. the average age at marriage for a
male was almost twenty-four years; for a woman it was nearly twenty-two years. Out of all
Mexicans aged twelve and above, just over half were married or otherwise united. Although the
basis for marriage is love, many Mexicans consciously or unconsciously look for a partner who
can provide social and economic security or upward mobility. Monogamy is the only marriage
form allowed. A marriage ceremony consists of a civil registration and a religious wedding.
Afterwards, the couple holds a huge and costly party with family and friends. At the begning of
1990s the divorce rate was relatively low 6.5%, it is legally easy to divorce but social pressure
against it can be formidable.

Political Environment:
There are three dominant political parties in Mexico. The first one is National Action Party, the
second one is Institutional Revolutionary Party and the third one is Party of Democratic
Revolution.