A HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF MEXICO

Mexico's most recent pre-Colombian emergence is highlighted by the foundation of Tenochtitlan by the Aztec culture in the year AD 800. These warrior latecomers took over much of the territory previously inhabited by very advanced cultural groups such as the Mayans and the Olmecas. The current Mexican territory was a mosaic inhabited by numerous and diverse indigenous peoples who interbred biologically and culturally with the Spanish conquerors from 1519 to 1810. After 300 years, the independence movement against the Spanish monarchy began in 1810. Mexico became independent in 1821. During the nineteenth century, a reform movement separated the church from the state, having a profound impact of on the political, social, and economic configuration of the country. A century after the independence movement, the Mexican revolution gave birth to a new civilian legacy, and to political stability and a single party rule for the rest of the twentieth century. With the new millennium, Mexico has jumped into a new experience; an opposition party has won the presidential election and is now ruling the country.

According to the 2000 results of the XII Population and Housing Census, Mexico's present-day population of approximately 97,483,412 inhabitants makes Mexico the eleventh most populated country in the world. Average annual population growth rate for the period 1990–1995 was 2.1 percent and dropped to 1.58 percent a year for the period between 1995 and 2000.