A Concise History of Mexico

Abstract

Mexico's fascinating complexities are difficult to approach. This illustrated Concise History begins with a brief examination of contemporary issues, while the book as a whole - ranging from the Olmecs to the present day - combines a chronological and thematic approach while highlighting long-term issues and controversies. Modern Mexico, founded after independence from Spain in 1821, was created out of a long and disparate historical inheritance which has constantly influenced its evolution. This book takes account of that past and pays attention to the pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial influence. Mexico's economic problems are given historical treatment together with political analysis and attention to social and cultural factors. The book's prime objective is accessibility to readers, including those interested in gaining a broad general knowledge of the country and those across the professions anxious to secure a rapid but secure understanding of a subject where there are few starting points.

Testing Balance-of-Power Theory in World History

“…Territories resisting the Mexica paid a high price immediately following their defeat, as thousands of warriors were taken to Tenochtitlan for ritual sacrifice and remaining populations subjected to punitive rates of tribute. Often, awareness of this threat meant that a mere display of Aztec military might was sufficient to secure voluntary submission on terms satisfactory to both parties (Hamnett, 1999). Similarly, in the altiplano, incorporation of a new ethnic group into the empire was preceded by offerings of goods and women.…”

Roma Fi̇lmi̇ Örneği̇nde Eleşti̇rel Söylem Anali̇zi̇ Ve Kültürel Temsi̇ller

“…Bu dönemi deneyimleyen nesil siyasi istikrar, bir nebze sosyal adalet ve büyüyen ekonomi kombinasyonuna alışmıştı. Orta ve üst-orta sınıf hayat tarzları ve arzuları da bu koşulların devamını gerektiriyordu (Hamnett, 1999). ABD ve Avrupa"ya seyahatler ve eğitim amaçlı yurtdışına çıkma durumları görünüşte zengin ve ayrıcalıklı sınıftan çıkıp daha mütevazı aileler için de gerçekleştirilebilir hayaller haline geldi.…”

Anarchy, State, and Dystopia: Venezuelan Economic Institutions before the Advent of Oil

“…Despite Porfirio Díaz’s (1877–1911) attempts to consolidate fiscal power, he was never able to fully concentrate fiscal collection in the hands of the central government. Indeed, during the ‘Porfiriato’, the sum of municipal and state revenues in Mexico averaged roughly 3 per cent of GDP, only slightly less than the total revenues of the federal government, which stood at approximately 4 per cent of GDP (Díaz‐Cayeros, 2006: 36–37) Nor did Mexico develop professionalised armed forces: Díaz decided to scrap the project for modernising the military because of fears of the accumulation of power by the Minister of War and initiator of these reforms, Bernardo Reyes (Hamnett, 1999: 205).…”