General Mexican Links
on Mexico, the Aztecs and much more ...
Mexican Tales
Mike Payton, a teacher who has lived and taught in Mexico, has set up a travelling schools project on Mexico (based in Nottingham), in many ways starting on a similar journey to Mexicolore’s: through storytelling, craftwork, music and games Mike aims ‘to foster a lasting interest in this unique country and culture’.
Texcoco Cultural
Publishers of ‘Texcoco Cultural’ magazine, this educational site was established by 3 journalists in 2002 to assemble in one place historical resources on Texcoco culture; includes good visual material - photo galleries, historical maps, codex images, and archaeological reports (in Spanish)
Global Gateway
As a result of workshops held in Mexico in 2006 and of co-operation between the Ministry of Education in Mexico and the DfES, Mexico now has its own pages on the Global Gateway. ‘These present Mexico to the world and lay out all kinds of useful information for teachers interested in partnering with a school in this richly varied country, including insights into Mexican history and culture, as well as guidance on the Mexican education system’
Ancient Footprints
Human footprints discovered by a joint Mexican-UK team of scientists in a central Mexican quarry have been dated to 40,000 years old and are revolutionising archaeological thinking about the first Americans
Directory of Mexican folklore institutions
A useful and up-to-date directory of museums, libraries and other institutions relating to Mexican folklore of national importance; prepared by the US Library of Congress
‘Háblame’ Project/Mundi
For (primary) teachers keen to explore the possibilities of linking with a school in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, check out the exciting ‘Háblame’ project launched in 2005 by Mundi Global Education Centre in Nottingham. We ran workshops in 10 Nottinghamshire primaries involved in Háblame in Jan/Feb 2006. The project completed in June 2008.
Global Museum
An award-winning international webzine established in 1998 focusing on museums worldwide: museum news, links, resources, museum study courses, bookshop and more
KidsCultureCenter.com (USA)
A simple, well researched resources site, originally aimed at families that have adopted children from around the world, with downloadable items and activity ideas on many subjects from recipes to festivals (and on the Aztecs). Very child-friendly; if you follow all the excellent links you can find out plenty more - for example by visiting US museums with superb exhibitions on Mexican culture
Mexicanwave
If you’re thinking of travelling to Mexico, and are looking for an excellent - indeed award-winning - introductory and highly practical portal site, visit Mexicanwave, run by our close friends Steve Bridger and Gicela Morales. They’ve moved on to other great things since, but the site remains a tribute to their work and a superb archive.
‘Let’s Eat! Children and their Food Around the World’ (Oxfam)
Using case studies from 5 countries - including 6-year-old Luis from Mexico -”Let’s Eat!” explores world cultures through the eyes of children and the food they eat, asking such questions as Where does their food come from? Do they buy it or grow it themselves? Do they eat at the table, outside or in front of the television? What foods do they like and dislike? What do they eat for special festivals and celebrations? Beautifully photographed and presented.
Planeta.com
A pioneering portal site on Mexico (founded 1995) and one of the founders of The Mexico Network - linking three of Mexico’s most important English-language content providers. Offering ‘a practical guide for anyone with a serious interest in ecotourism and conscientious travel’, Planeta.com provides free access to more than 10,000 pages of articles and resource guides for everyone from students to policy-makers.
AllPosters.co.uk
A surprisingly large and diverse number of Aztec- and Mexico-inspired posters (including Tenochtitlan, Mexican masks, the flag, Frida Kahlo, old cinema prints...) can be found - and bought online - by browsing through this huge commercial poster company site. Beware of huge price difference between mounted and unmounted!
Mexico Connect
For a useful general overview of Mexican history, consisting of a simple timeline (linked to world events, from the Pre-Classic Period up to today) backed by a good range of hyperlinked articles about each period, this is a great place to start
Was your computer made in Mexico?
Mexico is a major source of cheap parts and labour for the globalized electronics industry. It’s highly likely that key components in your PC were made in Mexico under conditions of exploitation. Find out more from CAFOD, one of the UK-based development agencies campaigning in support of Mexican workers. Start by seeing a 2-minute animation ‘A Tale of Two Cities’...
Casa Alianza
Casa Alianza is a long established charity dedicated to supporting street children not only in Mexico but in neighbouring Guatemala and Honduras. Their work deserves the maximum of support - helping to publicise the plight of street children, bringing pressure to bear on European governments to lobby their Central American counterparts, raising funds to back their work at street level, even volunteering in one of their programmes ...
Streetchildren
For details of a new UK-based development education project producing teaching resources focusing on issues relating to children (Casa Alianza UK is one of some 35 agencies in the ‘Consortium for Street Children’).
Global Exchange Mexico Program (USA)
For ‘getting involved’ in campaigning on issues affecting Mexico, particularly in the fields of human rights, environmental struggles, peace and politics; provides hundreds of links for the serious researcher/activist in these areas
Boleadora
A growing and vibrant source of Latin American folk music on the web; heavily into Andean music, but with growing numbers of examples - all with excellent background notes - of pieces from the rest of Latin America, including Mexico
Cool Chile Company
For a huge range (dozens of different varieties, strengths, flavours) of authentic Mexican dried chiles (whole and powdered), sauces and more, and offering a world wide delivery service, go to the London based and long established Cool Chile Co.
Mexgrocer.co.uk
An online mail order service for Mexican food and ingredients, based in Stockport and run by Anglo-Mexican couple Sol and Monica Flamberg
Latin America Bureau
For general up-to-date reading on Mexico today (and its history), check the Mexico section in the publications of the Latin America Bureau
Guatemala Maya Indian Centre
For anything to do with the Maya, consult our ‘sister’ educational partner, the Guatemala Maya Indian Centre (also in London)
Tribaleye
For beautiful photos of many aspects of Mayan culture, go to our good friend Jamie Marshall’s travel photography site
Pro Arte Maya Project/K’inal Winik Cultural Center (USA)
Artist-author-educator Marilyn Anderson works with Maya educators in the USA and Guatemala producing colouring books and other free resource materials on contemporary Maya culture, for use by children and teachers in Guatemala. Marilyn works collaboratively with the K’inal Winik Cultural Center and Yax Te’ Books in Cleveland, Ohio, whose mission is to produce and distribute books and other materials that support the use of Maya culture in classrooms around the world. They’re also involved in a wide range of exchange and educational visits programmes.
Zonezero
For an international photography site showcasing largely contemporary digital photography, including a strong Mexican element - highly recommended for inspiration and as an award-winning, beautifully assembled site in its own right (now in its 10th anniversary year).
Viva la Frida
A new UK-based online shop ‘for anyone with a love of Mexico or anything kitsch and colourful’ currently specialising in oilcloth, oilcloth products and handmade rebozos (shawls)
Mario Iván Martínez
A superb bilingual Mexican actor, Mario Iván starred in the classic film ‘Like Water For Chocolate’, and has toured the UK with performance pieces from his ‘Mestizo’ production, based on pre-Hispanic Mexican legends. His audio CDs for children, with music by the long-established group Tribu, are superb.
Latin American Network
For serious research/networking on Mexico and Latin America generally, The Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) at the University of Texas at Austin’s mission is to facilitate access to Internet-based information to, from, or on Latin America. ‘Our target audience includes people living in Latin America, as well as those around the world who have an interest in this region. While many of our resources are designed to facilitate research and academic endeavors, our site has also become an important gateway to Latin America for primary and secondary school teachers and students, private and public sector professionals, and just about anyone looking for information about this important region’.
Milpa Alta Project 2007
We’re keen to report and support the work of Silverio, Beccy, Claire and others in designing and making 200+ ceramic disks, decorated, fired and to be used as street signs for the Náhuatl-speaking community of Milpa Alta, lying to the South-East of Mexico City.
Piñatas from Mexicolore
For authentic Mexican piñatas in the UK
Tócuaro
For teachers studying the locality of Tócuaro (Michoacán, central Mexico), click on our Tócuaro button at the top of this page. And follow up the resources/info offered by Worldaware and St. Mary’s College, Twickenham
Popocatépetl
For a day-by-day chance to see the famous volcano Popocatépetl (currently being monitored for unusual activity because of the risk of serious eruption) and for further information/links on ‘Popo’ use the following:
Peace Brigades
For a very special opportunity to volunteer in Mexico, requiring serious commitment and with a strong human rights focus, try Peace Brigades International.
World Service Enquiry
For an excellent comprehensive guide to volunteering and working for development in general, buy a copy online of the latest Guide from World Service Enquiry in Brixton. The guide lists agencies all over the world with a description of type of work offered, length of placements, contact details and country locations - so you can quickly find those agencies (and there are dozens) that offer opportunities in Mexico.
‘Hunger’s Brides’ - novel based on the life/work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Gradually the figure of this seventeenth-century Mexican, ‘the last great poet of the Golden Age of Spanish verse’, is becoming better known to readers in the English-speaking world. Paul Anderson’s novel - and the beautifully presented website accompanying its publication in 2005 - provide some wonderful insights into how her work was informed by the prehispanic past and by the exploration and conquest of the New World
Earthwatch expeditions
Earthwatch - founded in 1971 - regularly run volunteer scientific expeditions to Mexico, including archaeological and palaentological. The link below takes you to a project tracking endangered black sea turtles in Baja California.
Mariachi Mexteca
For excellent Mariachi music in the UK, contact our good friend Salvador Jiménez Hernández and his Mariachi Mexteca band, based in London; the band was formed in 2002, and are now in demand all over the country.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Mexico
Mexico now (2008) accounts for 29 (25 cultural and 4 natural) of UNESCO’s 878 World Heritage Sites, and 34 others are waiting to be included. One of two most recent additions is the Monarch Butterfly biosphere reserve. See the full list below.
latinamericanstudies.org
Set up in 1997 by Assistant Latino Studies Professor Antonio de la Cova of Indiana University, this is now the leading resource for researching Latin American Studies on the net. Phenomenally comprehensive and well set out.
Mexican Colonial Architecture
A well presented photographic site designed for students, scholars, and others interested in colonial Mexico, created by Dr. Charlotte Ekland. The searchable database includes a unique facility to view colonial buildings with indigenous symbols and imagery.
UNESCO’s Atlas of Endangered Languages
Mexico ranks alongside China, Brazil, Russia, the USA and India among the countries with the greatest number of indigenous languages (144 for Mexico) at risk in the world.
Walking Tour of Teotihuacán
Archaeologist Richard Diehl, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, has assembled, based on his 40 years of research at the site, a virtual walking tour of this famous ancient city
Hearst Museum of Anthropology online collection
See some of the ‘hidden treasures’ from the Mexican Collections of this museum in California, including pottery, lacquer, textiles, masks, ceremonial arts, folk art, miniatures and more...
Network for Indigenous Mexican Studies
Hosted by De Montfort University’s Natural Products Research Laboratory, NIMS is an interdisciplinary network of academics with an interest in the indigenous cultures of Mexico, both ancient and modern.
Mexican indigenous radio
An impressive Mexican government portal page dedicated to streaming the audio content from a number of indigenous radio stations throughout various parts of Mexico
‘Dreams and Memories of a Common Man’
The excellent ‘Words Without Borders’ online magazine for international literature contains an entire issue dedicated to ‘The Indigenous Literature of the Americas’, including this moving account of a disillusioned migrant to the capital
‘Food for Discourse and Thought’
A wonderfully wide-ranging resource on ‘the anthropology of food and communication’, part of a course syllabus written by Professor Brian Stross of the University of Texas at Austin, a Maya expert. He includes several references/links to Mesoamerican foods...
Films Featuring the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico
Beautifully presented directory of films with a useful synopsis of each; part of a directory of Latin American films featuring indigenous peoples
Biblioteca Lafragua de la Universidad Autóma de Puebla
This important library in Puebla has made available for online study two 16th century indigenous codices, the Codex Sierra-Texupan and the Codex Yanhuitlán. Site in Spanish.
Iberian and Latin American Music Society
Established in 1997, ILAMS is the first and only organisation dedicated to the study, performance and promotion of Iberian and Latin American classical music in the UK.
El Pilar: Historical Monument, Classroom and Living Culture
Three linked sites (see below) give an impressive picture of an archaeological reserve just 50 kms from Tikal in Guatemala, where the research emphasis is on ‘ancient Maya people rather than the governing elites’. El Pilar is the only Maya site that presents the domestic component for visitors to appreciate...
