HISTORY OF VERACRUZ (PRE-HISPANIC-MODERN TIMES) - HISTORY - 2025

The history of Veracruz, in a similar way to the rest of the Mexican territory, can be described in three stages: the pre-Hispanic era, the Conquest and independent Mexico. The contributions of its historical figures have been crucial for the development of Mexico, and its cultural and natural heritages form an important part of the Mexican identity.

Veracruz is one of the 31 states that, together with the Federal District, make up the Mexican territory. It is geographically positioned between the center and southeast of Mexico; its entire coastline borders the Gulf of Mexico. The state of Veracruz represents an essential part of the history of Mexico.

This state was the gateway for Spanish settlers and, over time, its port - the largest in Mexico - has been one of its most important means of communication with the world, whether for trade or immigration.

Thanks to its elongated growing shape, the state of Veracruz encompasses various areas that represent geographic, demographic and cultural wealth. In addition, the commercial and communicational power of its port has always kept it as a relevant area for the development of the country.

Throughout its history, the territory of Veracruz has been home to warriors and revolutionaries moved by a feeling of dignity and sovereignty; Whether as a way of fleeing from the yoke of other empires, foreign invasions or military interventions, the inhabitants of Veracruz have historically demonstrated their defensive power.

Prehispanic era

The particular geography of the state of Veracruz, which resembles an elongated strip and occupies more than a third of the Mexican east coast, had a large portion of inhabitants in pre-Columbian times; the Huastecs settled to the north, the Totonacs in the center and the Olmecs in the south.

Olmec

The Olmecs arrived in Veracruz between 1000 and 300 BC. C., for this reason, anthropologists consider the Olmec culture as the mother culture of Mesoamerica; it is one of the oldest and most complex. This town is known for its sculptural skills: its iconic giant figures weighed up to 40 tons.

Huastecas

For its part, the Huasteco people extended to the states of San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo and was an isolated group. They spoke a variant of Mayan and were conquered by the Aztec empire. They had to participate in paying tribute, which they did by collecting cotton and furs.

Totonacas

The Totonacs were a crucial ethnic group for the development of this territory. They were trained for combat and showed skill in agriculture, their main economic activity. They had a population of 250,000 inhabitants, the majority in the vicinity of the current state of Veracruz. Its capital was the city of Cempoala.

In 1480 the Totonacs were conquered by the Aztecs and became part of their empire. For this reason, when Hernán Cortés arrived at what is now Veracruz for the first time and met the Totonacs, they offered him an alliance and put 50,000 warriors at his disposal to fight the Aztecs.

Arrival of Cortés

Hernán Cortés, supported by his Spanish troops, 16 horses, and the military might of the Totonacs, took control of the areas that had been conquered by the Aztecs under the orders of the Emperor Moctezuma.

In return, in June 1519, the Totonacs assisted the Spanish expedition in the founding of the Villa Bonita de la Vera Cruz, where today the port of Veracruz is located; this would be the first city founded by Spaniards in North America.

The conquest and the beginnings of independent Mexico

When the Spanish colony was consolidated in Mexico, while the old Tenochtitlán went on to become New Spain, the port of Veracruz remained the gateway to the country for foreigners. The European ships and the loads of African slaves arrived there.

It was in 1822 when, after a long struggle for independence, Agustín de Iturbide was appointed Emperor of Mexico. However, it would have a strong opposition led by Antonio López de Santa Anna from Veracruz. Santa Anna sought to establish a republic and was president of Mexico for nine years.

In this stage of transitions in the country, Veracruz would be the scene of crucial conflicts; In 1838 the French fleet blocked the port of Veracruz due to a war between France and Mexico that was named the War of the Cakes.

During the United States intervention in Mexico, North American troops were located in Veracruz as a strategic point; Near this stage, the Emperor Napoleon III was in the quest to conquer Mexican territory and occupied Veracruz for several years, making use of French naval power.

Modernity and contemporary Veracruz

After the republic was established, having undergone innovative reforms and a slow but stable period of modernization, Mexico gained power in terms of infrastructure with the construction of rail lines and the opening of ports and roads during the early 1900s.

It was in the first half of the 20th century when Veracruz went through one of its most important transformations: the north of the state had oil settlements and in 1938 Lázaro Cárdenas –the then president of Mexico– managed the oil expropriation.

In other words, the oil would now be exploited by the State through PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos).

With the agrarian reforms obtained thanks to the Mexican Revolution, one of the main activities of the state was favored: agriculture. This region, favored by its tropical climate, is today an important international supplier of coffee, vanilla, sugar cane and tobacco, among many other products.

In addition, Veracruz contributes its great natural wealth to the national economy. Due to its very varied geography, its territory goes through diverse climates, where the coasts are warm and in the high areas there are snow-capped mountains.

Added to this, its rich historical legacy and its vast cultural heritage place it as one of the most outstanding tourist destinations in Mexico.

With invaluable tourist sites, archaeological remains - one of them named a UNESCO heritage site - and a historic port that has opened Mexico to the world for more than 400 years, the state of Veracruz remains a bastion of development and communication, where the Modernity coexists in harmony with an ancient culture.

References

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica (sf) Veracruz. Ecyclopaedia Britannica. Recovered from Britannica.com
2. Lonely Planet (sf) Veracruz: History. Welcome to Veracruz City. Recovered from Lonelyplanet.com
3. Schmal, JP (sf) The History of Veracruz. History of Mexico. Recovered from Houstonculture.org
4. Szalay, J. (2017) Hernán Cortés: Conqueror of the Aztecs. Live Science. Recovered from Livescience.com
5. Visit México (sf) Meet the History of Veracruz. Visit Mexico. Recovered from Visitmexico.com