Mexico — History and Geography Reading Comprehension Lesson

Reading Passage

Mexico

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America bordered by the United States to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to the east, with Guatemala and Belize to the south. Mexico covers nearly 2 million square kilometers, making it the 13th largest country in the world by area. With a population of over 130 million people, it is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. Mexico City, the capital, is one of the largest cities on Earth, with a metropolitan population of more than 21 million people.

Mexico has one of the most diverse landscapes on Earth. The country features rugged mountains — including the Sierra Madre ranges — deserts in the north, tropical rainforests in the south, and thousands of miles of coastline. The Yucatán Peninsula, in the southeast, is a flat limestone plateau famous for its ancient Maya ruins, cenotes (natural sinkholes), and coral reefs. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Popocatépetl, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, rises to nearly 18,000 feet just 45 miles from Mexico City.

Mexico has an extraordinarily rich history. For thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, advanced civilizations flourished in the region. The Olmec, often called the ‘mother culture’ of Mesoamerica, developed along the Gulf Coast around 1500 BC. The Maya built elaborate cities with pyramids, calendars, and a writing system throughout southern Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs founded their capital Tenochtitlan — on the site of present-day Mexico City — in 1325 and built a powerful empire. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521, and Mexico became a Spanish colony called New Spain for nearly 300 years.

Mexico declared independence from Spain on September 16, 1810 — a date now celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. The struggle for independence lasted until 1821. In the decades that followed, Mexico went through tremendous upheaval: conflict with the United States (which led to Mexico losing about half its territory, including California, Texas, and much of the American Southwest in 1848), a French invasion, and a long dictatorship under Porfirio Díaz. The Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) was a massive armed uprising that overthrew Díaz and led to a new constitution, land reform, and a political system that shaped modern Mexico.

Today Mexico is a democracy and one of the largest economies in the world, with major industries including oil production, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Mexican culture is a rich blend of indigenous traditions and Spanish colonial heritage. Holidays like Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Cinco de Mayo are celebrated with distinctive music, food, art, and ceremony. Mexican cuisine — featuring ingredients like corn, chiles, tomatoes, and chocolate — has influenced cooking worldwide and was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Mexico is also home to the world’s largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America.

Printable Worksheet

More Reading Worksheets

Explore our full library of history and reading comprehension worksheets.