List of illustrations Preface 1 Mexico in perspective Nationalism and territory Living with the USA The border Drug trafficking Indigenous Mexico 2 The pre-Columbian era The Olmecs Monte Alban and the Zapotec cultures of Oaxaca The Mayas Teotihuacan The north The time of troubles, 750-950 The Toltecs The Post-Classic Maya The Zapotecs and Mixtecs of the Post-Classic era Central Mexico The Aztecs 3 The European incursion, (1519-1620) The impact of the fall of Tenochtitlan The imposition of Christianity Hispanic land acquisition 4 New Spain, 1620-1770: Spanish colonialism and American society Spain and the Empire: merchants, financiers, and markets Indian communities New Spain's Baroque culture The cult of the Virgin The exposed north and far north The political processes 5 Destabilisation and fragmentation, 177o-1867 Part one: the climax and collapse of New Spain,1770-1821 Part two: the failures and successes of a newly sovereign state, 1821-1867 6 Reconstruction, 1867-194o Part one: the Liberal republic: constitutionalism or personal rule, 1867-1911? Part two: the revolutionary system: state power or democratisation, 1911-1940? 7 The monopoly party, 194O-2000 Part one: the 'Mexican miracle' and political control, 1940-1970 Part two: economic crises and political divisions,1970-2000 Final comments Bibliography Index