Mexico holds one of the richest and most composite historical and cultural heritages in all of America. Theater of the same political, social and cultural dynamics affecting the entire continent as a consequence of European colonization, the country, forged by its past of Indian tradition and at the same time increasingly attracted by the way of life of American origin, it has long played a role of hegemony towards the Latin American world. Popular culture finds a wide and “colorful” manifestation above all in the dozens of festivals that take place throughout the year: from those of religious or mystical-spiritual origin to civil and patriotic ones, to which are added private and family recurrences, equally rich in folklore and articulated ceremonials. Art and crafts have always been strongly linked to the traditions of the Indians, however the twentieth century has seen the emergence of artistic personalities who, in part detached from these trends, have found wide acceptance even outside national borders. Architecture deserves a separate mention, in which the results achieved by Maya, Toltecs and Aztecs (who in turn inherited motifs already elaborated by previous civilizations) continue to arouse the same wonder over the centuries. In literature, the rich and diversified pre-Columbian heritage has been heavily compromised, even if there remain evidence of a remarkable literary and speculative quality, both in prose and in poetry. The conquest also brought with it the Hispanic literary tradition and, above all, thanks to the religious movements of evangelization, the first universities were built that contributed to the development of the arts and literature, as well as reaffirming the pre-eminence of Mexico over the entire continent. The revolution and independence then opened new pages and new perspectives for confrontation with international trends and artists, also supported by an internal fervor, fueled by literary magazines and numerous promotional initiatives. According to constructmaterials, even at a musical level, Mexico has been characterized by the presence of parallel, but equally flourishing, paths between its different souls: cultured music and popular tradition, the music of the natives and the contributions of the African world, often the subject of moments of meeting and fruitful mixture. Finally, cinema and theater are equally lively sectors of Mexican culture, frequent witnesses, if not precursors, of historical, political and national events. In recent decades it has also acquired the Mexican gastronomic tradition, which has spread and appreciated throughout the Western world. It must be said that, as in the political and commercial sphere, also in culture the capital plays a very strong centralizing role: home to 11 universities, museums (among the most important in the world is that of anthropology) and cultural institutes, the capital extends its influence over the whole country and the entire area of ‘isthmus. From this point of view, other centers of some importance are Guadalajara and Puebla. Testimony of the country’s cultural richness are the numerous sites declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO including: the historic center of Mexico City and Xochimilco (1987); the historical area of Oaxaca and the archaeological area of Monte Albán (1987); the historic center of Puebla (1987); the pre-Hispanic city and National Park of Palenque (1987); the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacán (1987); the historic city of Guanajuato (1988); the pre-Hispanic city of Chichén Itzá (1988); the historic center of Morelia (1991); the pre-Hispanic city of El Tajín (1992); the historic center of Zacatecas (1993); the rock paintings of the Sierra of San Francisco (1993); the monasteries of Popocatépetl (1994); the historical-monumental area of Querétaro (1996); the pre-Columbian city of Uxmal (1996); the Cabañas hospice in Guadalajara (1997); the archaeological area of Paquimé, Casas Grandes (1998); the historical monuments of Tlacotalpan (1998); the archaeological area of Xochicalco (1999); the historic fortified city of Campeche (1999); the Mayan city of Calakum (2002); the Franciscan missions of the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro (2003); Louis Barragán’s home and studio (2004); Tequila’s landscape of agave and ancient industrial installations (2006).
Ecatepec
Ecatepec [Ekate pεk], Ecatepec de Morelos, city in Mexico, in the northeastern suburb area of the capital, Mexico, in the state of Mexico, (2019) 1.8 million residents.
Ciudad Juarez
Ciudad Juárez [s and Dad xu ares], city in the state Chihuahua, Mexico, border and to bridges (four international bridges) on the Rio Bravo del Norte across from El Paso (Texas), (2019) 1500000 Resident.
University (founded 1973), Museum of Anthropology and History; Bishopric; Growing industrial center with many assembly companies in the low-wage sector (maquila), transit trade, tourism.