Mesoamerica is that geographical region which covers parts of both North America, the Caribbean and a portion of South America, bisected by the tropic of cancer. As instructed, a state of the Republic of Mexico i.e. Oaxaca is selected for analysis.
OAXACA (PHYSICAL FEATURES)
I) Oaxaca is an important state of the republic of Mexico and is known for its rich cultural diversity. (Mexico was formerly a colony of Spain and the country acquired independence in 1821. Unlike other states, independence came in 1821. Unlike other parts of the nation, traditional customs were not totally forgotten in Oaxaca, This is the fact behind the rich diverse culture of the state, which makes it a popular tourist attraction.
II)Location: Oaxaca is located towards the southern tip of the Mexican Republic. It is bound on the eastern side by the states of Chipansing, Pueblo, Coalzacoalcos and Texla Guttireaaj. It however does have a coastline as the final side of the state is hemmed in by the Pacific Ocean. Oaxaca however has no international borders.
III) Size and Population:
Mexico has a total number of 31 states and 1 number Federal District. The population of Oaxaca (as on 2009) is 3,551,710 i.e. 3.55 million. The state has an area of 93,793 square kilometer or 36,214 square miles (Figures obtained from the Internet; website http://www.mexonline.com/estado.htm,, accessed on 7th February 2013)
The US state, which has nearly equal figures of population with 3,500,000, is Connecticut.
Again, Indiana which has a size of 36,418 square miles or 94,322 square kilometers is the US state which has (approximately) similar area.
What will be the population density?. The population density of Oaxaca is given by the quotient of the population and the surface area. Hence the population density will be
Population density= (3,551,710)/36214= 98.08 or 99 persons/square mile (in SQ.MILES)
Again, Population Density =3551710/93793=37.86 or 38 people per square kilometer.(IN SQ KILOMETERS)
There are about 512 ‘municipios’ in Oaxaca, both government supported or not. The state’s towns generally do not have a major metropolitan area. Industrial growth is conspicuous by its absence
#2>OAXACA: SOCIAL UNREST
Oaxaca is and continues to be a reputed tourist spot and the capital city of the state very much so. A tourist in Oaxaca is often mislead by the aroma of dishes to try out a palate, which does not support the American food habit. For the romantics, it is a place of soft guitar play on the boulevards and every second stranger appear to be an incarnation of Antonio Banderas.
In a way, the legend of Zorro still lives on in Mexico. Society is sharply divided into the haves and have-nots which is not very uncommon. What is uncommon is that it is very difficult for a have-not to become a have on the basis of its own beliefs. On Oaxaca, Mahar defines the low social groups as “The lower class consisted largely of peons, servants, and poorly skilled workers such as carpenters, fireworks-makers, small traders, and weavers “
Beyond its food Oaxaca is known for the courageous demand for social justice started by the teachers who had made the folly of also accusing the government of violation of electoral ethics .Up against the army, the teachers had adopted a mantra of non-violence protests. In May 2006, in a bloody demonstration of power, 9 teachers were killed and hundreds injured. That rebellion died down but the embers are still hot as Mahar says
Chili has long since dominated the Mexican’s palate and they are able to keep the discontent hidden in immense cauldrons for now. However, what will tomorrow bring? Only time will tell.
#3GEOGRAPHIC CONFIGURATION
The city is a mysterious mixture of both planning and mom planning but this occurs in droves. As you go along, two sights assail the eye of the tourist. The apparently haphazard design of the colonies and suddenly wide open spaces come after the other. This is a way of life in the town. Then as the night takes firm hold of the tourist, it is very possible for the tourist to be taken to Paris with Gaugin, Toulouse de-Lautrec, Van-Gogh etc. at Moulin Rouge in a very Parisian atmosphere
In the marketplaces, we see shops & buildings are there but there is not vertical development. What we see instead is horizontal development. Vendors hawking trinkets are afraid that there may be an overlook of their products. For the average mexican, tourism is always an industry to fall back to. And the new generation are making their presence felt be it in the country’s oilfields or in the soccer field. Petroleum today is giving Mexico enough of an bargaining power to insist on making themselves heard. Women are increasingly making their presence felt. Today‘s Mexican women is fast on the rise of their professional lives irrespective of social responsibilities
#4. PYRAMIDS BY DAY: MARTINIS BY NIGHT
What Eric Wolf had noted down regarding the relationship of geography and culture, can perhaps be best expressed in Mexico’s present approach to the tourism industry.
Mexicans today have come along away from philosophies of the Mayan Civilization and the Aztec Indian civilizations. Not that there has been an absolute cultural vacuum which invariably leads to foreign cultures being imported in non - customized manners, which is a culturally destructive approach. That is what Wolf means, Cultural differences are incremental and also sudden in entire Mesoamerica. . Even if someone wants to, adaption of geography can best be optimized in a particularly defined cultural way and that is the way the cultural legacy of the Mexicans lie.
In the tourism industry, the industry has been culturally shaped so that the effect is something like Giza and Las Vegas being in adjacent areas . Tourists can go for sightseeing in the day time and in the night, the night life beckons to the casinos, to the multitudes of bars where dry martinis can be sipped while in the background some Joan Baez sound alike sings soft slow numbers.to acoustic guitar accompaniment and piano.
References:
- Goertzen, C (2010) “Made in Mexico : Tradition, Tourism, and Political Ferment in Oaxaca”; University Press of Mississippi ,Jackson, MS, USA
- Mahar, Cheleen Ann-Catherine(2010). Reinventing Practice in a Disenchanted World :
Bourdieu and Urban Poverty in Oaxaca, Mexico.; University of Texas Press ,Austin, TX, USA
- Mexonline.com(nd); accessed on 7th February 2013 on the Internet : URL
- WTO.(2010), World Trade Press. Mexico Society and Culture Complete Report.; World Trade Press, Petaluma, CA, USA
