20 Best Books On Mexican History (2023 Update)

In conquest one of the most distinguished modern historians has written the first major history of the conquest of mexico since prescott's classic account, published over 150 years ago. cortes' conquest of mexico in 1519-1521 is one of the most famous stories in the world. macaulay wrote that the way aztec emperor montezuma died was one of the two things that every schoolboy knew. the story of the 500 conquistadores landing near vera cruz, the subsequent burning of the boats, the march up to the aztec capital, the extraordinary battles and ruses en route, the welcome by montezuma, the later quarrels, the spanish withdrawal, the bloody fighting, and the eventual apocalyptic victory can never fail to excite the imagination. drawing on newly discovered sources and taking into account information not available to earlier scholars, hugh thomas, author of the bestselling the spanish civil war and the history of the cuban revolution, presents a full and balanced history of one of the most significant events of western civilization, a subject and an era of continued fascination to millions of readers. here, in a brilliant and detailed narrative, full of the sound and fury of great events and the clash of empires and personalities, is a book that rivals prescott's for its sweeping view of history, but is written with a new respect for the civilization and culture that cortes ruthlessly destroyed. hugh thomas' account of the collapse of montezuma's great mexican empire under the onslaughts of cortes' conquistadores is one of the major historical works of the decade. it bristles with moral and political issues that are profoundly relevant to our time, and is also a thrilling narrative, brimful ofthe sheer excitement of discovery.

The quarter-century of mexican sovereignty over the land that is today the american southwest was a period of turmoil and transition. between 1821 and 1846, mexico city's ties to the far northern frontier were steadily weakened by domestic political and social strife as well as by foreign economic encroachment. the gradual loss of social and economic links and the eventual lapse of political allegiance is perceptively reinterpreted from the mexican perspective by professor weber. the book is essential reading for all who are interested in the history of the west and the southwest. the late ray allen billington praised the book as meticulously prepared, sparklingly written, and brilliantly interpreted. its perspective will affect all writing on western history for a generation to come.

The mexico reader is a vivid introduction to muchos méxicos—the many mexicos, or the many varied histories and cultures that comprise contemporary mexico. unparalleled in scope and written for the traveler, student, and expert alike, the collection offers a comprehensive guide to the history and culture of mexico—including its difficult, uneven modernization; the ways the country has been profoundly shaped not only by mexicans but also by those outside its borders; and the extraordinary economic, political, and ideological power of the roman catholic church. the book looks at what underlies the chronic instability, violence, and economic turmoil that have characterized periods of mexico’s history while it also celebrates the country’s rich cultural heritage.a diverse collection of more than eighty selections, the mexico reader brings together poetry, folklore, fiction, polemics, photoessays, songs, political cartoons, memoirs, satire, and scholarly writing. many pieces are by mexicans, and a substantial number appear for the first time in english. works by octavio paz and carlos fuentes are included along with pieces about such well-known figures as the larger-than-life revolutionary leaders pancho villa and emiliano zapata; there is also a comminiqué from a more recent rebel, subcomandante marcos. at the same time, the book highlights the perspectives of many others—indigenous peoples, women, politicians, patriots, artists, soldiers, rebels, priests, workers, peasants, foreign diplomats, and travelers.the mexico reader explores what it means to be mexican, tracing the history of mexico from pre-columbian times through the country’s epic revolution (1910–17) to the present day. the materials relating to the latter half of the twentieth century focus on the contradictions and costs of postrevolutionary modernization, the rise of civil society, and the dynamic cross-cultural zone marked by the two thousand-mile mexico-u.s. border. the editors have divided the book into several sections organized roughly in chronological order and have provided brief historical contexts for each section. they have also furnished a lengthy list of resources about mexico, including websites and suggestions for further reading.

Recounting the decade of bloody events that followed the eruption of the mexican revolution in 1910, villa and zapata explores the regional, international, cultural, racial, and economic strife that made the rebels francisco (pancho) villa and emiliano zapata legends. throughout this volume drama colludes with history, in a tale of two social outlaws who became legendary national heroes, yet–despite their triumph and only meeting, in 1914, in the mexican capital–failed to make common cause and ultimately fell victim to intrigues more treacherous than their own. 16 pages of black-and-white photographs bring this gripping narrative to life. "mclynn … tells it so well … you can hear the strains of he mexican patriotic standard 'zacatecas’ as you read it.”–austin american-statesman "an admirably clear account of the chaos of revolution, its rivalries and bloody struggles….”–the spectator "informative and insightful … feels less like a history than a great story, as exciting as a saturday serial western.”–publishers weekly

If you want to discover the captivating history of mexico, then keep reading… before the modern country was born in 1821, the territory that today comprises 32 states and few small islands was inhabited by ancient dynasties and kingdoms of warriors, astronomers, priests, temples for human sacrifice, and, surprisingly, some of the largest cities in the world. it is estimated that the sacred city of chichen itza, in the yucatan peninsula, was larger than paris at its height of splendor. this fascinating journey through mexico's history, from its amazing pre-hispanic past to the end of the 20th century, will reveal more surprises than the reader can imagine. in the words of the self-proclaimed mexican singer chavela vargas, "mexico has magic. i looked for that magic, and i found it there." the big division "the most beautiful empire in the world" in the times of don porfirio the mexican revolution the cristeros the second world war and the mexican miracle end of century pangs and much, much more so if you want to learn more about the history of mexico, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

The oxford history of mexico is a narrative history of the events, institutions and characters that have shaped mexican history from the reign of the aztecs through the twenty-first century. when the hardcover edition released in 2000, it was praised for both its breadth and depth–all aspects of mexican history, from religion to technology, ethnicity, ecology and mass media, are analyzed with insight and clarity. available for the first time in paperback, the history covers every era in the nation's history in chronological format, offering a quick, affordable reference source for students, scholars and anyone who has ever been interested in mexico's rich cultural heritage.scholars have contributed fascinating essays ranging from thematic ("faith and morals in colonial mexico," "mass media and popular culture in the postrevolutionary era") to centered around one pivotal moment or epoch in mexican history ("betterment for whom? the reform period: 1855-1875"). two such major events are the mexican war of independence (1810-1821) and the mexican revolution (1910-1920), the subjects of several essays in the book. publication of the reissued edition will coincide with anniversaries of these critical turning points.essays are updated to reflect new discoveries, advances in scholarship, and occurences of the past decade. a revised glossary and index ensure that readers will have immediate access to any information they seek.william beezley, co-editor of the original edition, has written a new preface that focuses on the past decade and covers such issues as immigration from mexico to the united states and the democratization implied by the defeat of the official party in the 2000 and 2006 presidential elections. beezley also explores the significance of the bicentennial of independence and centennial of the revolution. with these updates and a completely modern, bold new design, the reissued edition refreshes the beloved oxford history of mexico for a new generation.

The first volume in this four-volume encyclopedia is a richly illustrated introduction to mexican numismatics, from pre-columbian money to the colonial era, independence, revolutions, modern coinage reforms, commemorative programs, bullion, medals, and paper money. in addition to coins, this book covers primitive money, patterns, tokens, error coins, orders and decorations, and other specialized numismatic topics. forthcoming volumes in the whitman encyclopedia of mexican money will cover these topics in greater detail: media of exchange from pre-columbus days through republican coinage; the coinage reforms of 1905 and 1992; and coinage of the 1910-1920 mexican revolution.

Responding to shifts in the political and economic experiences of mexicans in america, this newly revised and expanded edition of mexicanos provides a relevant and contemporary consideration of this vibrant community. emerging from the ruins of aztec civilization and from centuries of spanish contact with indigenous people, mexican culture followed the spanish colonial frontier northward and put its distinctive mark on what became the southwestern united states. shaped by their indian and spanish ancestors, deeply influenced by catholicism, and often struggling to respond to political and economic precarity, mexicans play an important role in us society even as the dominant anglo culture strives to assimilate them. with new maps, updated appendicxes, and a new chapter providing an up-to-date consideration of the immigration debate centered on mexican communities in the us, this new edition of mexicanos provides a thorough and balanced contribution to understanding mexicans' history and their vital importance to 21st-century america.

Osprey's examination of the mexican army of santa anna, from 1821 to 1848. detailed information on the mexican army which fought the texans in the battle of the alamo (1836) and the us army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive. in this ground-breaking book an internationally respected military historian presents a mass of new information from mexican archives and a variety of other contemporary sources. for the first time the armies of the notorious general santa anna are explained coherently for the english-speaking reader, and their frequently changing and unevenly issued uniforms are illustrated with early prints, portraits, photos of rare surviving items, and meticulous colour reconstructions.

A major new history of capitalism from the perspective of the indigenous peoples of mexico, who sustained and resisted it for centuriesthe mexican heartland provides a new history of capitalism from the perspective of the landed communities surrounding mexico city. in a sweeping analytical narrative spanning the sixteenth century to today, john tutino challenges our basic assumptions about the forces that shaped global capitalism—setting families and communities at the center of histories that transformed the world.despite invasion, disease, and depopulation, mexico’s heartland communities held strong on the land, adapting to sustain and shape the dynamic silver capitalism so pivotal to spain’s empire and world trade for centuries after 1550. they joined in insurgencies that brought the collapse of silver and other key global trades after 1810 as mexico became a nation, then struggled to keep land and self-rule in the face of liberal national projects. they drove zapata’s 1910 revolution—a rising that rattled mexico and the world of industrial capitalism. although the revolt faced defeat, adamant communities forced a land reform that put them at the center of mexico’s experiment in national capitalism after 1920. then, from the 1950s, population growth and technical innovations drove people from rural communities to a metropolis spreading across the land. the heartland urbanized, leaving people searching for new lives—dependent, often desperate, yet still pressing their needs in a globalizing world.a masterful work of scholarship, the mexican heartland is the story of how landed communities and families around mexico city sustained silver capitalism, challenged industrial capitalism—and now struggle under globalizing urban capitalism.

Longlisted for the 2022 national book award for nonfiction “rebel historian” kelly lytle hernández reframes our understanding of u.s. history in this groundbreaking narrative of revolution in the borderlands. bad mexicans tells the dramatic story of the magonistas, the migrant rebels who sparked the 1910 mexican revolution from the united states. led by a brilliant but ill-tempered radical named ricardo flores magón, the magonistas were a motley band of journalists, miners, migrant workers, and more, who organized thousands of mexican workers—and american dissidents—to their cause. s. authorities vested in protecting the diaz regime. departments of war, state, treasury, and justice as well as police, sheriffs, and spies, hunted the magonistas across the country. capturing ricardo flores magón was one of the fbi’s first cases. but the magonistas persevered. they lived in hiding, wrote in secret code, and launched armed raids into mexico until they ignited the world’s first social revolution of the twentieth century. taking readers to the frontlines of the magonista uprising and the counterinsurgency campaign that failed to stop them, kelly lytle hernández puts the magonista revolt at the heart of u.s. history. long ignored by textbooks, the magonistas threatened to undo the rise of anglo-american power, on both sides of the border, and inspired a revolution that gave birth to the mexican-american population, making the magonistas’ story integral to modern american life.

This engaging book provides a brief, accessible introduction to the broad sweep of mexican history, from pre-contact civilizations to the present. john sherman explores the nation's rich pre-columbian heritage, including the great pyramids of teotihuacán, while a stand-alone chapter addresses the yucatán maya, including a detailed account of chichen itzá. the drama of the conquest ushers in mexico's three colonial centuries. the author brings to life the pageantry of viceregal reign, the power of the roman catholic church, the poignancy of sor juana's poetry, the virgin of guadalupe, hacendados, silver barons, and pirates. the turmoil of the hidalgo revolt, the loss of texas, a cataclysmic war with the united states, french invasion, and the triumph of benito juárez define the era of early nationhood. he shows how the shrewd dictator porfirio díaz is toppled in rebellion, as emiliano zapata and pancho villa ride again. exploring the breadth of the twentieth century, sherman uncovers the roots of a vested oligarchy that still dominates mexico today. in clear, vibrant style, he tells the dramatic tale of a nation whose history is integrally tied to that of the united states. focusing on political and economic processes, the author provides a crisp narrative, enhanced with a rich array of maps and illustrations.

The mexican revolution began in 1910 with the overthrow of dictator porfirio díaz. the wind that swept mexico, originally published in 1943, was the first book to present a broad account of that revolution in its several different phases. in concise but moving words and in memorable photographs, this classic sweeps the reader along from the false peace and plenty of the díaz era through the doomed administration of madero, the chaotic years of villa and zapata, carranza and obregón, to the peaceful social revolution of cárdenas and mexico's entry into world war ii. the photographs were assembled from many sources by george r. leighton with the assistance of anita brenner and others. many of the prints were cleaned and rephotographed by the distinguished photographer walker evans. anita brenner, author of idols behind altars and a number of children's books, was born in mexico and lived there for many years. during the spanish civil war she wrote dispatches from spain for the new york times and the nation and for many years she edited the magazine mexico this month.

How much do you know about mexico? there's so much to learn about america's southern neighbor that it could fill several books and you still wouldn't even know it all. in this trivia book, you'll learn about mexico's history (ancient and modern), pop culture, geography, folklore, and so much more! in the great book of mexico, you'll learn: how did mexico get its name? what are the origins of the mexican flag? how did the aztecs and maya contribute to mexican history? where are mexico's most haunted locales? how did tequila start in mexico and where? what are some of mexico's top tourist spots? what are the most popular sports in mexico? what is mexico's highest peak? where is mexico's lowest point? and so much more! this book is packed with trivia facts about mexico. some of the facts will make you scratch your head, while others will probably creep you out. there is no doubt, though, that all of the facts in this book will fascinate you. whether you just have a passing interest in mexico, or planning on visiting the country, or you already think you're an expert on the state, you'll learn something you didn't know in every chapter. you will be able to amaze all of your friends and family with your newfound knowledge about mexico. so what are you waiting for? open the pages and get started learning more about mexico!

A myth-busting, 100-year history of the mexican drug trade that reveals how an industry founded by farmers and village healers became dominated by cartels and kingpins.the mexican drug trade has inspired prejudiced narratives of a war between north and south, white and brown; between noble cops and vicious kingpins, corrupt politicians and powerful cartels. in this first comprehensive history of the trade, historian benjamin t. smith tells the real story of how and why this one-peaceful industry turned violent. he uncovers its origins and explains how this illicit business essentially built modern mexico, affecting everything from agriculture to medicine to economics—and the country’s all-important relationship with the united states. drawing on unprecedented archival research; leaked dea, mexican law enforcement, and cartel documents; and dozens of harrowing interviews, smith tells a thrilling story brimming with vivid characters—from ignacia “la nacha” jasso, “queen pin” of ciudad juárez, to dr. leopoldo salazar viniegra, the crusading physician who argued that marijuana was harmless and tried to decriminalize morphine, to harry anslinger, the machiavellian founder of the american federal bureau of narcotics, who drummed up racist drug panics to increase his budget. smith also profiles everyday agricultural workers, whose stories reveal both the economic benefits and the human cost of the trade. the dope contains many surprising conclusions about drug use and the failure of drug enforcement, all backed by new research and data. smith explains the complicated dynamics that drive the current drug war violence, probes the u.s.-backed policies that have inflamed the carnage, and explores corruption on both sides of the border. a dark morality tale about the american hunger for intoxication and the necessities of human survival, the dope is essential for understanding the violence in the drug war and how decades-old myths shape mexico in the american imagination today.

Newly revised and updated, mexicanos tells the rich and vibrant story of mexicans in the united states. emerging from the ruins of aztec civilization and from centuries of spanish contact with indigenous people, mexican culture followed the spanish colonial frontier northward and put its distinctive mark on what became the southwestern united states. shaped by their indian and spanish ancestors, deeply influenced by catholicism, and tempered by an often difficult existence, mexicans continue to play an important role in u.s. society, even as the dominant anglo culture strives to assimilate them. thorough and balanced, mexicanos makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of the mexican population of the united states—a growing minority who are a vital presence in 21st-century america.

Newly revised and updated, mexicanos tells the rich and vibrant story of mexicans in the united states. emerging from the ruins of aztec civilization and from centuries of spanish contact with indigenous people, mexican culture followed the spanish colonial frontier northward and put its distinctive mark on what became the southwestern united states. shaped by their indian and spanish ancestors, deeply influenced by catholicism, and tempered by an often difficult existence, mexicans continue to play an important role in u.s. society, even as the dominant anglo culture strives to assimilate them. thorough and balanced, mexicanos makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of the mexican population of the united states—a growing minority who are a vital presence in 21st-century america.

A companion to mexican history and culture features 40 carefully chosen essays that focus on new approaches to the rich tradition of mexican history. essays by a variety of international scholars serve to broaden accounts of the mexican experience through the incorporation of ethnic, gender, environmental, and cultural studies. an introductory section providing overall context is followed by essays focusing on the major chronological eras in mexican history: indigenous cultures before columbus, colonial new spain, and independent mexico, which is divided into two sections. principal historic figures, institutions, the environment, and scientific and medical developments are discussed in individual essays. also covered are recent historical interpretations with critical historiographical sources. the readings in a companion to mexican history and culture reflect the important new trends in the study of history that have led to a more sensitive narrative and revealing portrait of mexico's dramatic and complex past and rich cultural traditions.

A companion to mexican history and culture features 40 carefully chosen essays that focus on new approaches to the rich tradition of mexican history. essays by a variety of international scholars serve to broaden accounts of the mexican experience through the incorporation of ethnic, gender, environmental, and cultural studies. an introductory section providing overall context is followed by essays focusing on the major chronological eras in mexican history: indigenous cultures before columbus, colonial new spain, and independent mexico, which is divided into two sections. principal historic figures, institutions, the environment, and scientific and medical developments are discussed in individual essays. also covered are recent historical interpretations with critical historiographical sources. the readings in a companion to mexican history and culture reflect the important new trends in the study of history that have led to a more sensitive narrative and revealing portrait of mexico's dramatic and complex past and rich cultural traditions.

The book begins with an examination of indian mexico and continues with the spanish conquest, new spain, the war of independence, the age of santa anna, the reform, the reign of diáz, the revolution, and the period of reconstruction.