The Aztecs and their last ruler Moctezuma, the conqueror Hernán Cortés with his Indigenous lover Malinche, the legendary revolutionaries Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata: Mexico's history is rich with fascinating figures that continue to shape Mexican identity to this day. This volume provides a vivid and well-founded overview of the history of a country that had a highly developed culture even before the arrival of the Spaniards. It traces the historical development in politics, economics, and culture through the conquest and colonial period, the struggle for independence, the Mexican Revolution, and the complex relationship with the northern neighbor, up to the events and crises of recent times.