The Spirit and People of Mexico Mexico is a vibrant country rich in history and culture. Learn about their ancient civilizations and life in the country today.
1. Few civilizations were more powerful than the ancient Aztecs. They built immense temples, shrines, and pyramids, and their capital city of Tenochtitlan (where modern-day Mexico City now stands) was one of the world’s largest cities. 2. Mexican food is more than tacos and burritos. In fact, UNESCO bestowed Mexico with the first-ever award for “intangible cultural property” based on its rich cuisine. For more than 5,000 years, corn, beans, and pumpkins, called the “Three Sisters,” have provided the foundation of Mexican cooking. 3. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s 60 million Monarch butterflies! Every October to mid-November, millions of Monarch butterflies fill the sky as they migrate to Mexico to roost in fir trees for the winter. 4. Mexico is one of the most active earthquake regions in…
What looks like a toad, eats like an anteater, and wears a spiky crown like the Statue of Liberty? The answer is not an amphibian, mammal, or monument, but rather the short-horned lizard. Found in the deserts of North and Central America, this lizard is flat and squatty with a short, blunt snout that makes it look toadish. In fact, some call it a horned or horny toad. It has a crown of solidly filled horns on its head and numerous spines across its back that discourage predators such as snakes, dogs, and wolves that can easily outrun the little lizard. The short-horned lizard eats mainly ants; most species prefer the black harvester variety. The stealthy lizard waits for an unsuspecting ant to crawl by, snaps it up with its…
More than 200 different Indian groups settled in Mexico over the course of thousands of years. Although most of the groups were small, some grew significantly in size and power. The Aztecs were a large and powerful civilization. They ruled a vast empire during the 15th and 16th centuries and developed a sophisticated system of agriculture and a powerful military. They constructed beautiful temples, shrines, and pyramids, and their capital city of Tenochtitlan became one of the world’s largest cities. Mexico City is located where Tenochtitlan once stood. Although the Aztecs had many enemies, it was the Spanish who brought an end to their powerful empire in 1521. Spain ruled Mexico for the next 300 years, but their oppression of the Mexican people led to the Mexican War of Independence…
Drop into a Mexican restaurant and you’ll be greeted with tantalizing aromas and a menu chockfull of tasty options. Will you try the spicy chicken burritos or the crunchy beef tacos? Nibble on coconut camarones or have a handful of carnitas? There are always the cheesy enchiladas and crispy chalupas. And you’d better leave room not only for the chips and salsa, but sweet desserts of churros, guava pudding and of course, candied pumpkin. From handmade tamales that take hours to prepare and delicate slices of fish bathed in lime juice (ceviche) to spicy patties of birria (goat) and pachola (ground beef), the food throughout Mexico is vibrant, robust, and yummy. It’s no surprise that UNESCO bestowed upon Mexico the first-ever award for “intangible cultural property” based on its unique…
1) Since the time of the Maya, people in Mexico have been growing the “Three Sisters.” They are…. A) Corn, rice, and beans B) Corn, beans, and pumpkins C) Wheat, beans, and tomatoes D) Wheat, rice, and beans Answer: B. Corn, beans, and pumpkins were the mainstays of ancient diets and are just as popular today. 2) Jumping around for something crunchy to snack on? Forego the potato chips and try chapulines dipped in fresh guacamole. You just ate: A) Fried squash blossoms B) French fries with chili flakes C) Fried bread D) Fried grasshoppers Answer: D. Fried grasshoppers are popular in Oaxaca, as are smoked worms. 3) Which of these are commonly used in Mexican dishes: A) Cactus leaves, or paddles B) Corn husks C) Banana leaves D) All…
Chances are you’ve seen a disaster movie in which an earthquake devastates a city, toppling buildings and opening chasms in the streets. Earthquakes can be huge, frightening events, but earthquakes actually occur every single day. Most of them are small, mild tremors that people don’t even feel. Only sensitive seismic equipment can register them. The ground under our feet may feel solid and unmoving, but it is really shifting all the time. Earthquakes occur because the earth’s crust, which varies between five and 45 miles deep depending on where you are, is made up of tectonic plates. These plates are always moving and shifting and sliding, and sometimes they run up against each other and get snagged on rough sections of rock. When tectonic plates get stuck, they build up…
