Mexico: A Concise Illustrated History
Ebook
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Overview
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.
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Preface
Note about the Cover Images
Part I: Ancient Civilizations
Chapter 1 Great Pyramids in the Highlands
Chapter 2 The Maya of Yucatán
Chapter 3 Olmecs, Téenek, Aztecs
Chapter 4 Conquests
Part II: Colonial Centuries
Chapter 5 The Creation of New Spain
Chapter 6 Mid-Colonial Economics
Chapter 7 Mid-Colonial Society
Chapter 8 Late Colonial Reform and Revolt
Part III: Independence and Modernity
Chapter 9 The Insurmountable Divide
Chapter 10 Showdown with the Americans
Chapter 11 Juárez, War, and the French
Chapter 12 Age of the Railroad
Part IV: The Age of Rebellion
Chapter 13 Twilight of the Porfirians
Chapter 14 The Season of Rebellions
Chapter 15 Return of the Strong Arm
Chapter 16 The Limits of Idealism
Part V: Structures of Power
Chapter 17 Miguel Alemán—Legacy President
Chapter 18 PRI-Eminence
Chapter 19 Bombast, Boom, Bust
Chapter 20 Crisis and Control
Afterword
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index
Students will appreciate this thoughtful, readable, streamlined text. The carefully chosen images will also stimulate class discussions. Sherman’s treatment of Mexico’s twentieth-century history is particularly innovative and thought-provoking.
Sherman has composed an exceptional text that explores primarily the economic and political history of Mexico in an accessible way. For teachers who focus on the social and cultural aspects of Mexico, Sherman’s work helps fill the gaps in our lectures and teaching emphases. I have struggled in the past explaining the finer concepts of Mexican economic history in the classroom, and this book will be of great benefit to my students and to me as a scholar. Plus, the images throughout the book capture the beauty and essence of Mexico in a novel way.
Sherman’s fast-paced romp through more than five hundred years of Mexican history is full of insightful, sometimes unexpected twists and turns. Written in a lively prose, this richly illustrated volume will appeal to students, travelers, and specialists looking for a concise approach to a captivating country.
Product Details
- Title : Mexico: A Concise Illustrated History
- Author: Sherman, John W.
- Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
- Publication Date: 2020
- ISBN: 9781538137857