Empire Builders Mexico

The Spanish Conquest of Mexico laid the ground for 300 years of colonial rule making Spain the richest country in Europe and dividing the country with a class system that continues to impact Mexico to this day After the conquest Mexico became the worlds largest producer of silver which provided eagerly sought exchange for Europes trade with Asia

The War of Independence charts the violent struggle by Mexicans to break free after decades of instability wrought by losing almost half of its territory to the US This episode examines the initial revolt led by revolutionary priests Hidalgo and Morelos both of whom were executed after being captured by royalist forces

This episode explores the conflict between church and state which led to Mexicos civil war and the French invasion Rising to power was the Austrian prince Maximillian who became Emperor of the so called Second Empire He was defeated and executed by Benito Juarez one of Mexicos great independence heroes Juarez was succeeded by Porfirio Diaz who ruled Mexico for more than 30 years

The Mexican Revolution began in the early part of the 20th century It was another hugely bloody event but one which achieved the foundations of the modern Mexican state with the myriad cultures that we know today We examine the roles of revolutionaries Villa Zapata Carranzas and Obregon the violent religious conflict called the Cristero Wars and the Cardenas government that followed