Ancient Mexican Trade with the American Southwest

Posted June 30, 2024June 30, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Although separated by well over 1,000 miles, the ancient civilizations of Mexico did have contact with their distant northern neighbors.

Itzcoatl, First Emperor of the Aztecs

Posted June 9, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

The first emperor of the Aztecs altered the past and set the course for the future of an empire

The Ultimate Cinco De Mayo Post

Posted May 5, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

It’s not Mexican Independence Day. It’s not the day that Mexico kicked out the French. So, what exactly is the holiday called Cinco de Mayo?

Jacinto Canek: Last King of the Maya

Posted March 31, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

In the Yucatán in 1761 a Maya leader spearheaded a brief but intense uprising against the Spanish.

María Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez: Champion of Mexican Independence

Posted March 17, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

The wife of a colonial magistrate became a key player in Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain.

Catarina de San Juan and the Trans-Pacific Slave Trade

Posted January 28, 2024March 9, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

An enslaved woman from India found herself living 10,000 miles away from home in 1600s colonial Mexico.

Porfirio Díaz: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Posted January 21, 2024March 9, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Over 100 years after his death historians are still wondering what to make of the reign of Porfirio Díaz.

The Trial of the Chichimec Witch, 19 July 1599

Posted January 7, 2024March 9, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

An obscure witch trial on the frontier of New Spain was more political than religious.

Benito Juárez: The Indigenous Statesman Who Shaped Modern Mexico

Posted October 28, 2023April 5, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

A brief profile of one of the greatest leaders of Mexico.

Did a Mexican Invent Color TV?

Posted October 15, 2023April 5, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Many Mexicans have never heard of genius inventor Guillermo González Camarena

Does a Group of Remote Islands in the Western Pacific Belong to Mexico?

Posted October 1, 2023April 5, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

4 small Pacific islands north of New Guinea may belong to Mexico

Xiximes: An Extinct and Forgotten Tribe

Posted September 10, 2023 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History, Uncategorized

The Xiximes were gone by the end of the 1600s. Who were they?

Tlahuicole, the Hercules of Ancient Mexico

Posted July 30, 2023April 21, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Throughout ancient Mexico, everyone knew the name of this famous warrior from Tlaxcala.

Doña Isabel Moctezuma, the Last Empress of the Aztecs

Posted July 2, 2023April 28, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

The last empress of the Aztecs had a short but intense life. Her legacy lives on.

José Estrada Munguía, Mexico’s Nikola Tesla

Posted June 4, 2023April 28, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

This prolific Mexican inventor was almost completely lost to history.

Emperor Ahuizotl and the Expansion of the Aztec Empire

Posted May 7, 2023May 23, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

This young emperor doubled the size of the Aztec Empire and died a tragic death

Pancho Villa and the Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce

Posted April 9, 2023May 30, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Did Pancho Villa himself have a hand in the disappearance of a famous American writer?

Mascogos, The Black Seminoles of Northern Mexico

Posted February 12, 2023May 30, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

A unique culture in northern Mexico has its roots in Florida’s Afro-Native communities.

The Ancient Republic of Tlaxcala

Posted January 8, 2023June 2, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

This small political entity defied the Aztecs and was influential in shaping Mexico’s destiny.

Origins of the Comanche-Mexico Wars

Posted December 4, 2022June 2, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

The Comanche wars of the 1800s were devastating for Mexico. What are their origins?

Joaquín Murrieta, Legendary Mexican Bandit

Posted November 6, 2022June 2, 2024 Robert Bitto2 CommentsPosted in Little-Known History

This controversial historical figure has grown into a larger-than-life legend.

The Martín Cortés Conspiracy

Posted September 11, 2022June 22, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Did the son of the famous conquistador plot to overthrow the Spanish king?

First Contact, Mexico Meets Spain, 1519

Posted August 7, 2022June 23, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

The first contact between the Spaniards and Aztecs is often misunderstood.

Luis de Sáric and the Pima Revolt of 1751

Posted July 10, 2022June 23, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

A highly coordinated attack against the Spanish almost drove them out of northern New Spain for good.

Juan Antonio, Indigenous Leader of Mexican California

Posted May 29, 2022June 28, 2024 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

This overlooked indigenous leader played an important role in Mexican California.

Pedro Lascuráin, Mexican President for 45 Minutes

Posted May 8, 2022May 8, 2022 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

He served for only 45 minutes as Mexico’s president, but his legacy was long-lasting.

Chipilo: The Forgotten Italian Colony in Mexico

Posted April 17, 2022 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Founded by Italians in 1882 Chipilo has maintained its cultural identity into the 21st Century.

Mexican Kickapoo, A Forgotten Tribe

Posted March 13, 2022March 13, 2022 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

An isolated, little-known band of Kickapoo Indians has survived and thrived in Mexico.

British Baja: The Mexican Land and Colonization Company

Posted February 20, 2022February 20, 2022 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

Baja California almost became part of the British Empire in 1890.

Apache Wars with Mexico

Posted January 16, 2022 Robert BittoLeave a commentPosted in Little-Known History

For centuries the Apache beat back colonization.