Culture in Mexico

Representation of ancient culture in Mexico

Learn about the different traditions and cultures that exist in the country, as well as the best known pre-Hispanic cultures and those that are more deeply rooted in certain regions of Mexico.

Pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico

Within the ancient Mexican culture we can find the Toltecs, Mayas, Mixtecs, Olmecs, Huastecs or Zapotecs, among many others.

The Toltec culture was based in Tula, where one of the most important settlements can be found today. Estos lo habitaron durante el 730 D.C., destacando en artes y en conocimientos variados, llegando a conocerse como los hombres de culto.

Another of the best known cultures, even internationally, is the Mayan culture. This is still considered one of the most enduring traditions. Even today there are still regions of Mexico where Mayan languages are still spoken. One of its most iconic legacies is the city of Chichén Itzá.

We continue with another of the most complex pre-Hispanic cultures, the Mixtec. Like the regions still inhabited by indigenous Mayan peoples, there is a large Mixtec majority living in Mexico today. Evidence has been found that the Mixtecs were true master craftsmen and excelled greatly in this work. Evidence has been found mainly in artifacts from the Monte Albán archaeological zone.

The Olmec was one of the oldest societies found in Mesoamerica, in fact, it is the first one considered as such. They were master craftsmen, great political strategists and superb architects, among many other arts that they mastered to perfection and that served as a legacy for other later societies.

The Huastecans, who lived between 600 and 1500 A.D., are recognized among other Mesoamerican cultures for inhabiting a single region of Mexico, unlike others.

The last of the long list of pre-Hispanic cultures is the Zapotec. It was a fairly complete society, formed by all social strata, something that undoubtedly allowed its great development.

Culture of Oaxaca

It is believed that the Zapotecs were the first to inhabit the territory of Oaxaca as early as 1400 B.C. Even today, the languages inherited from Zapotec are still alive, as are indigenous groups.

Sightseeing in the state of Oaxaca will allow you to know from the most modern cultural attractions, to discover the importance of ancient civilizations such as the Zapotec.

Cultures of Veracruz

In Veracruz, the Olmec and Huasteca cultures have stood out. Both developed between 900 and 1500 A.D. Although the Olmecs have also been located in several areas of Mesoamerica, the vast majority of remains have been found in the state of Veracruz.

Meanwhile, the heritage of the Huastecan culture has been found in several Mexican states, such as Puebla and San Luis Potosi. Their main language was Nahuatl and they called themselves Teenek.

They excelled in painting and sculpture, a fact proven thanks to the innumerable remains found belonging to this ancient civilization that can currently be seen in the museums of the state.

About the Author
Patu Soto | Me gradué en Periodismo por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Durante estos años, he podido desarrollarme como periodista y fotógrafa amateur en el periódico El Ibérico ubicado en Londres. También he colaborado y publicado tanto artículos escritos como reportajes fotográficos en varios medios digitales. Tuve la oportunidad de desempeñar labores de Community Manager en el centro cultural japonés Sakigake en Madrid. Actualmente colaboro como Redactora SEO para Oasis Hoteles & Resorts, con sede en Cancún. En mis ratos libres sigo formándome, aprendiendo y conociendo más acerca del mundo digital en general y de los RRHH en particular. Si quieres conocer mi trabajo un poco más, conecta conmigo en mi Linkedin.

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