The Mexican people represent the modern state of Mexico, a Modern Age civilization in Civilization VII.
The Mexicans' civilization ability is Revolución, which unlocks a unique 
Government, Revolución, with its 
Culture-granting 
Celebrations. Their associated 
Wonder is the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and their unique assets are as follows:
Intro[]
As Mexico makes its break with the old world, it faces new challenges, both internal and external. In the Zócalo, in the stateroom, and in clandestine meetings of revolutionaries, its future is constantly being formed and re-formed, but its soul remains. Let that soul sing.
Tips and hints[]
Mexico's Revolución Government provides different Celebration options than other Modern Civilizations. Unlock your preferred Revolución Celebration from your Civics early, and then focus on other Civic paths.
Strategy[]
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Civilopedia entry[]
The name “Mexico” is derived from a Nahuatl word. The image at the center of the Mexican flag depicts the founding myth of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. Still, how much of Mexico's history is bound with the indigenous inhabitants of the land, and how much originates with the Spanish conquistadors? The colony of New Spain was founded after the arrival of Hernán Cortés in 1519. At this moment in history, the Ming Dynasty reigned in China, Japan was about to descend into its Sengoku wars, and Ayutthaya (Siam) was a struggling city-state beginning to assert its dominance. William Shakespeare had yet to write his first word, and the Spanish had recently – less than three decades earlier – reconquered Spain from the last Arab caliphate. The world had just moved out of the Middle Ages.
Cortés’ conquest should be viewed in light of local events – he was a powerful new figure, and the tribes suffering under Aztec domination believed they could weaponize him. At least, that was the hope of groups such as the Tlaxcaltec. Soon, Cortés’ few Spaniards united with thousands upon thousands of the Aztecs’ indigenous enemies and descended upon Tenochtitlan, overthrowing the empire. New Spain was born.
And New Spain kept growing. The Inca Empire fell not long after, along with its profitable silver mines. Spain soon colonized the Philippines too, as Incan silver was exchanged for Chinese goods at the port of Luzon. What was once two continents separated by an ocean, Spain saw as a unified system of tribute and trade. By the end of the 16th century, New Spain was incredibly profitable, producing plantation crops (out of Havana), mining precious metals (out of Mexico and Peru), and managing prosperous trade routes (out of the Philippines). The Catholic Church also played a key role, becoming an organizing force around expansion and settlement. Local “criollos” (people of European descent born in the New World) became increasingly influential. As the colony grew, more and more wealthy Spaniards were born in the colonies.
Spain reached its height in the 1600s. Soon afterward came its decline. At the end of this period, Spain's Hapsburg king, Charles II, died without an heir. The various European powers saw this as an opportunity, and the French king (of the House of Bourbon) placed one of his relatives on the throne. This was a windfall for France but provoked the anger of neighboring nations. War ensued. The Bourbon king managed to cling to his crown, but Spain was weakened financially and territorially. Someone had to pay the bills.
In the New World, this conflict led to the reconfiguring of New Spain's viceroyalties, and the colonies' previously independent trade systems were seized by the government. This action severely limited the power of criollo elites. Dissent simmered, especially after the American Revolution. Mass movements (begun by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla) spread into widespread military defections and popular uprisings. At the end of 1822, Agustín de Iturbide overthrew Spanish rule, establishing a military government under the banner of the Empire of Mexico.
However, Iturbide was out after a year, and the First Mexican Republic was born. This back-and-forth would become a pattern – the tension between militaristic conservatives and progressive-minded democrats resulted in chronic instability and successive coups d'état. The fluctuations between republic and empire were so frequent and quick that a full recounting would fill many pages. Still, this history is full of dramatic highlights: the would-be Bonaparte of Santa Anna, war with the United States, and a French invasion, not to mention the progressive figure of Benito Juárez.
In 1876, Mexico achieved a moment of stability: the Porfiriato, dictator Porfirio Díaz's rule that lasted until 1911. Díaz was a mestizo military general who fought against Santa Anna’s empire. He later made a name for himself fighting under the French-installed empire on the fifth of May (Cinco de Mayo), during the Battle of Puebla. Under the Porfiriato, prosperity, development, and stability trumped democracy. The railroads improved every year and bread was cheap. If you’re going to assume absolute power and suppress dissent, you had better get things done.
For Mexico, the period from 1884 to 1910 was marked by a balance of power. Díaz weighed nationalists against foreign interests (which Díaz saw as necessary for Mexican development). He co-opted local elites while centralizing the state. His overall philosophy was “pan o palo” (“bread or the stick”), meaning get on board and he’d be generous, but go against him and things would not go well.
Díaz was corrupt. His foreign deals often took the form of monopolies, where an international company would be given control over local interests. He placed allies in high positions and chipped away at local autonomy (including indigenous autonomy). Díaz favored outside investors, and the state strongarmed indigenous groups and poor landowners, allowing foreigners to expand their operations. To this end, Díaz saw railways as key to national development, so he gave American companies concessions to build US-Mexican rail lines (and lines across Mexico to link ports). By 1910, there were nearly 20,000 kilometers of rail across the country, but these lines were built for foreign profit, not national development.
Díaz also promoted mining operations, pulling in capital from largely American investors. To these interests, Díaz passed a law allowing direct ownership of mineral wealth – meaning foreign ownership. This move generated profit, but much of it flowed out of Mexico, leading to widespread dispossession and poverty as more and more land was seized by landlords based in the U.S.
In 1910, Díaz held grand spectacles of wealth and power, but everything was about to collapse. On the left, figures like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata represented the peasant and indigenous resistance to the Porfiriato. On the right, Díaz was countered by wealthy landowners. Pressured from both sides, Díaz could not hold power. The Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920 marked the end of this style of reign and the birth of a more nationalistic, more socialistic Mexico.
Cities[]
Age Transition Quotes[]
When age progress reaches 100% or player gets eliminated/retires, one of these quotes will be read depending on the last legacy path completed:
- Culture: "A sight for the ages, immortalized by the Mexicanos-- beautiful artifacts behind glass."
- Economic: "Mexico's railroads paved the way for faster trade-- and with it, prosperity for its people."
- Military: "Recall the smell of gunpowder, of Mexican soldiers pushing back foreign invaders."
- Science: "A revolution, a new world, a new start for people who had been Mexican in the face of a hostile world. A new dawn will come."
- Defeat: "A revolution, a new world, a new start for people who had been Mexican in the face of a hostile world. A new dawn will come."
Trivia[]
- The Mexican civilization's symbol is a golden eagle devouring a rattlesnake, a motif originally from the Aztec founding myth of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), as depicted on the Mexican coat of arms and flag.
- The Mexican civilization ability is the Spanish word for "Revolution", referring to the Mexican Revolution.
- The Mexican background art depicts a street scene, with a clergyman standing under an arch in front of a cathedral.
Soundtrack[]
| Original Track | № | Based on | Credits | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Mexico (Modern Age)" | 40 | El Son de la Negra | Composed by Geoff Knorr Performed by FILMharmonic Orchestra, Prague |
4:08 |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Mexican city in-game (Civ7).jpg (3.74 MB)")
.png "Soldaderas in-game (Civ7).png (1.22 MB)")
.png "Zócalo in-game (Civ7).png (1.02 MB)")
.png "Palacio de Bellas Artes in-game (Civ7).png (4.91 MB)")
.jpg "Mexican Background (Civ7).jpg (97 KB)")
Videos[]
See also[]
- Mexican in other games
External links[]
| Civilization VII Civilizations [edit] | |
|---|---|
| Antiquity | |
| Exploration | |
| Modern | |
| 1 Requires DLC | |