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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 are used. Stone bowls and jars, obsidian knives, and open-weave basketry are developed.
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.
1000-900 B.C. Olmec San Lorenzo center is destroyed; the Olmec begin anew at La Venta.
600 B.C. La Venta Olmec cultural zenith.
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.
683 Maya King Pacal is buried in an elaborate tomb below the Palace of the Inscriptions at Palenque.
800 Bonampak murals are painted.
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 last Long Count date yet discovered, symbolizing the end of the Classic Maya era.
1156-1230 Tula, the Toltec capital, is abandoned.
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.
1518 Spaniards first visit what is today Campeche.
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.
1524-35 Cortez is removed from power, and royal council governs New Spain.
1526 King of Spain permits Francisco Montejo to colonize the Yucatán.
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 Church and the politically powerful. A governor who reports to the king rather than to viceroys leads the Yucatán.
1542 Mérida is established as capital of Yucatán Peninsula.
1546 The Maya rebel and take control of the peninsula.
1559 French and Spanish pirates attack Campeche.
1562 Friar Diego de Landa destroys 5,000 Maya religious stone figures and burns 27 hieroglyphic painted manuscripts at Maní, Yucatán. Those Maya believed to be secretly practicing pre-Hispanic beliefs endure torture and death.
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.
1864-67 Second Empire: The French invade Mexico in the name of Maximilian of Austria, who is appointed emperor of Mexico. Juárez and 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.
1847-66 War of the Castes in the Yucatán: Poverty and hunger cause the Maya to revolt and gain control of half of the peninsula before being defeated by the Mexican National Army. But lingering warfare lasts well into the 20th century in the most remote parts of the peninsula.
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.
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 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.
1974 Quintana Roo achieves statehood and Cancún opens to tourism.
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, voting, and human rights.
1999 The governor of Quintana Roo goes into hiding following accusations of corruption and ties to drug money. After many months in hiding, he turns himself in and is imprisoned.
2000 Mexico elects Vicente Fox of the PAN party president.
2002 The PAN party wins the governorship of the Yucatán.
2005 Two hurricanes, Emily and Wilma, inflict great damage on Cancún, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya.
2007 Felipe Calderón assumes the office of president of Mexico. His first major act is to send the army into several areas of the country to combat the growing presence of drug cartels.
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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