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001555 Visit since
| National
profile of the indigenous peoples of Mexico | by
Prof. German Estrada
June 24, 2002. | We
have divided this fascinating topic into eleven separate chapters: Introduction,
Location, History, Identity, Demography, Migration, Economy, Social Development,
Political Movements, Relationship between the Nation State and Indigenous Peoples
and Conclusion. Chapter 1. Introduction General
Overview of the Indigenous Populations of Mexico 1. The
discovery of the Americas in the 16th century revealed to the European invaders
two great civilizations: the Inca in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Mesoamerican
in the Northern Hemisphere. The latter was characterized, until colonization began,
by all the elements commonly associated with "advanced civilizations."
These included a great concentration of sedentary populations; sophisticated political
organization of hierarchical states; intensive agriculture; monumental constructions
including temples, and civil structures; a great tradition of sculpture and pictorial
art; hieroglyphic writing; the use of sophisticated calendars, and; mathematical
computation. It also included a variety of social classes, centralized religious
systems with priestly castes. 2. To the north of this
Mesoamerican civilization, was the zone of hunters and gatherers, known as arid-America.
In this zone, with desert ecology, its inhabitants successfully adapted to the
limited resource base and harsh environment through a primarily nomadic economy,
with a low demographic density and limited sedentary settlements. In contrast
to the Mesoamerican civilizations, they had a relatively simple social and political
structure; a low level of technological development and simple knowledge of architecture
as well as relatively unsophisticated artistic, religious and intellectual expressions.
3. Mesoamerica is comprised of a series of areas or regions
which illustrate the specific characteristics of its unique cultures which still
persist today, such as a Mayan area, Huasteca area, Zapotec, Mixtec areas, etc.
All of them form a part of a single unique Mesoamerican cultural area, and all
have contributed, over the long span of the formation of this culture over five
thousand years, to the ancient history of contemporary Mexico. 4.
The heterogeneity of peoples and cultural diversity of Mexico are testimony of
the resilience and continuity of the Mesoamerican civilization. It is expressed
through its 56 ethnic groups spread over 2 million square kilometers of the national
territory and constitute at least 10 percent of the nation's nearly 100 million
inhabitants. 5. The sites and ceremonial areas, remnants
of the original cultures, are still significant to the contemporary indigenous
groups and constitute important settlements wherein the inhabitants gather to
carry out their economic, cultural, social, religious and political activities.
Some examples of these settlements are contemporary Tenochtitlan in what is today
Mexico City, Cholula in the state of Puebla, Palenque in Chiapas, and Monte Alban
in Oaxaca. The term Mesoamerica was first used by Paul
Kirchoff to describe the area of Middle America characterized as a region of high
civilizations. Middle America is the geographical term used to describe the region
that includes Mexico and Central America. Urban and
Ceremonial Sites of the Mesoamerican Region Quemada
Teul Ixtlán Zacoalco Colima Apatzingán Tzintzuntan Tula Teotihuacán
Tajín
Huetamo Xochicalco Iguala Cholula Acapulco Zempoala Monte Albán
Mitla Tonalá
La Venta Comalcalco Palenque Bonampak Izapa Champotón
Uxmal Chichén-Itzá Tulúm
Xpuhil Lubantúm Copán
Usulutan Tampico Pánuco Tehuacán Teotitlán Coixtlahuaca It
includes the modifications introduced to the Mexican Constitution of 1917 through
1982 concerning territorial limits. Total continental surface of the Mexican Republic
is 1,963,890 km2. STATES:
1. Aguascalientes 2. Baja
California Norte (officially divided from the southern part of the state classified
as a territory according to the Official Diary of the State February 7, 1931.
Subsequently declared a State according to the Official Diary November 21, 1952).
3. Baja California Sur (Divided from the northern portion of the state according
to the Official Diary of the State February 7,1931. Subsequently declared a State
according to the Official Diary October 8, 1974) 4. Campeche 5. Coahuila 6. Colima
7. Chiapas 8. Chihuahua 9. Durango 10. Guanajuato 11. Guerrero 12. Hidalgo 13.
Jalisco 14. México 15. Michoacán 16. Morelos 17. Nayarit 18. Nuevo
León 19. Oaxaca 20. Puebla 21. Querétaro 22. Quintana Roo 23. San
Luis Potosí 24. Sinaloa 25. Sonora 26. Tabasco 27. Tamaulipas 28. Tlaxcala
29. Veracruz 30. Yucatán 31. Zacatecas 32. Distrito Federal. EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC ZONE
Mexico includes a territory formed of 239 islands, 23 keys and
20 reefs. This zone extends 200 nautical miles from the coast. The objective of
this zone is to increase Mexico's jurisdiction over these zones, to avoid excessive
or abusive marine resource exploitation, curb and curtail pollution and avoid
the use of this zone for military purposes. Sources: All
the preceding information was obtained from the different Mexican Institutions
that deal with this topic: INEGI, INSTITUTO NACIONAL INDIGENISTA (INI) INSTITUTO
DE ECOLOGIA (UNAM), EL COLEGIO DE MEXICO, INSTITUTO DE GEOGRAFIA (UNAM), SECRETARIA
DE EDUCACION PUBLICA (SEP), SEMARNAP, CONAPO SEDESOL, SAGAR, INAH, CONACULTA,
HACIENDA, CONAFE.
gestrada@pvnet.com.mx
Prof. Germán Estrada is the
author of the best selling book, "México
Mágico: Everything You Wanted To Know About... But Nobody Told
You..." available in Puerto Vallarta at The Net House, Mail Boxes, Etc.,
Books, Books as well as directly from the author by internet. Archives
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