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Dateline
10,000-1500 B.C. Archaic period: hunting and gathering; later, the dawn of agriculture: domestication of chiles, corn, beans, avocado, amaranth, and pumpkin. Mortars and pestles in use. Stone bowls and jars, obsidian knives, and open-weave basketry developed. Possible dating of the cave paintings of central Baja, believed to have been created by nomadic indigenous tribes.
1500 B.C.-A.D. 300 Pre-Classic period: Olmec culture develops large-scale settlements and irrigation methods. Cities spring up. Olmec influence spreads over other cultures in the Gulf Coast, central and southern Mexico, Central America, the lower Mexican Pacific Coast, and the Yucatán. Several cities in central and southern Mexico begin the construction of large ceremonial centers and pyramids. The Maya develop several city-states in Chiapas and Central America.
A.D. 300-900 Classic period: Broad influence of Teotihuacán culture and the establishment there of a truly cosmopolitan urbanism. Satellite settlements spring up across central Mexico and as far away as Guatemala. Trade and cultural interchange with the Maya and the Zapotec flourish. The Maya perfect the calendar and improve astronomical calculations. They build grandiose cities at Palenque, Calakmul, and Cobá, and in Central America.
900 Post-Classic period begins: More emphasis is placed on warfare in central Mexico. The Toltec culture emerges at Tula and replaces Teotihuacán as the dominant city of central Mexico. Toltec influence spreads to the Yucatán, forming the culture of the Itzaés, who become the rulers of Chichén Itzá.
909 This is the date on a small monument at Toniná (near San Cristóbal de las Casas), the latest date yet discovered, symbolizing the end of the Classic Maya era.
1325-1470 Aztec capital Tenochtitlán is founded; Aztecs begin military campaigns in the Valley of Mexico and then thrust farther out, subjugating the civilizations of the Gulf Coast and southern Mexico.
1516 Gold found on Cozumel during aborted Spanish expedition of Yucatán Peninsula arouses interest of Spanish governor in Cuba, who sends Juan de Grijalva on an expedition, followed by another led by Hernán Cortez.
1519 Conquest of Mexico begins: Hernán Cortez and troops make their way along Mexican coast to present-day Veracruz.
1521 Conquest is complete after Aztec defeat at Tlatelolco.
1521-24 Cortez organizes Spanish empire in Mexico and begins building Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlán.
1532 Cortez launches the first exploration to Baja, then believed to be an island. The expedition is unsuccessful, with ships intercepted by pirates.
1534 The Concepción makes landfall near present-day La Paz, under charge of a group of mutineers; most are killed by the indigenous inhabitants of the area.
1539 Capt. Ulloa explores the entire perimeter of the Sea of Cortez, establishing that Baja is not an island, as believed, but a peninsula.
1541 Cortez is recalled to Spain, never to return to Mexico.
1565 Trade routes between Acapulco and Manila are established, with Baja becoming an important stopping point along this route, which lasted more than 250 years. It was also the site of ongoing pirating, which becomes an embarrassment to the Spanish crown.
1535-1821 Viceregal period: 61 viceroys appointed by King of Spain govern Mexico. Control of much of the land ends up in the hands of the Catholic Church and the politically powerful.
1697-1767 Jesuit Mission period of Baja, during which 20 missions were established for the purpose of converting the indigenous populations to Christianity.
1810-21 War of Independence: Miguel Hidalgo starts movement for Mexico's independence from Spain but is executed within a year; leadership and goals change during the war years, but Agustín de Iturbide outlines a compromise between monarchy and republic.
1822 First Empire: Iturbide ascends throne as Emperor of Mexico, loses power after a year, and loses life in an attempt to reclaim throne.
1824-64 Early Republic period, characterized by almost perpetual civil war between federalists and centralists, conservatives and liberals, culminating in the victory of the liberals under Juárez.
1833-47 Mexican-American War results in the loss of huge amounts of territory to the U.S. by Mexico. In 1847 Mexico City falls to U.S. troops. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848, in which Mexico conceded not only the Río Grande area of Texas but part of New Mexico and all of California for a payment of U.S. $25 million and the cancellation of all Mexican debt.
1849 The California Gold Rush lures many Mexicans and Indians from the Baja peninsula to seek their fortunes in California, reducing Baja's already scarce population, and transforming it into a haven for outlaws, pirates, and renegades.
1864-67 Second Empire: The French invade Mexico in the name of Maximilian of Austria, who is appointed Emperor of Mexico. Juárez and the liberal government retreat to the north and wage war with the French forces. The French finally abandon Mexico and leave Maximilian to be defeated and executed.
1872-76 Juárez dies, and political struggles ensue for the presidency.
1877-1911 Porfiriato: Porfirio Díaz, president/dictator of Mexico for 33 years, leads country to modernization by encouraging foreign investment in mines, oil, and railroads. Mexico witnesses the development of a modern economy and a growing disparity between rich and poor. Social conditions, especially in rural areas, become desperate.
1911-17 Mexican Revolution: Francisco Madero drafts revolutionary plan. Díaz resigns. Leaders jockey for power during period of great violence, national upheaval, and tremendous loss of life.
1920 U.S. Prohibition, in which the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages is made a federal offense, is a boon to Baja, with Americans rushing across the border into Tijuana and northern Baja to buy liquor and drink in cantinas. It also initiates an era of organized crime and sees the establishment of casinos and brothels.
1917-40 Reconstruction: Present constitution of Mexico is signed; land and education reforms are initiated and labor unions strengthened; Mexico expropriates oil companies and railroads. Pancho Villa, Zapata, and presidents Obregón and Carranza are assassinated.
1940 Mexico enters contemporary period of political stability and makes steady economic progress. Quality of life improves, although problems of corruption, inflation, national health, and unresolved land and agricultural issues continue.
1952 The Territory of Northern Baja California becomes Mexico's 29th state.
1973 Carretera Transpeninsular (Hwy. 1) opens, connecting Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. This leads to serious growth in Baja, and the following year, Baja California Sur becomes Mexico's 30th state.
1994-97 Mexico, Canada, and the United States sign the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). An Indian uprising in Chiapas sparks countrywide protests over government policies concerning land distribution, bank loans, health, education, and voting and human rights.
2000 Mexico elects Vicente Fox, of the PAN party, president.
2006 Conservative party candidate, Felipe Calderón is elected president. Labor party candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador contests the election results, spawning protests in the capital and in southern Mexico. Nonetheless, the Federal Electoral Tribunal rules Calderón the victor.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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