Mexico

Mexico is a land of extremes, with tall mountains and deep canyons in the center of the country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east. It’s the third largest country in Latin America, and has the world’s largest population of Spanish speakers. The pre-Hispanic civilizations of Mexico built some of the world’s greatest archaeological monuments, including Teotihuacan’s towering pyramids and the exquisite Maya temples of Palenque. The Olmec people, Mexico’s first complex society, developed around the southern Gulf of Mexico about 3,500 years ago. They were later followed by the Maya, the Zapotec, the Toltec, and the Aztec peoples among others. Mexico’s ancient civilisations built great cities and huge pyramids, created remarkable works of art, and even studied the stars and planets to determine when to plant crops and hold ceremonies. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan and Xochicalco are scattered throughout the country. In the early 16th century the Spanish arrived in Mexico and conquered it. The Spanish colonial era left beautiful towns full of tree-shaded plazas and richly sculpted stone churches and mansions, while modern Mexico has seen a surge of great art from the likes of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Today, most Mexicans are mestizos, which means they have a mix of Indian and Spanish blood, and the county’s rich and fascinating history is documented by its top-class museums and galleries.