Mexico has a rich and complex history which dates back to around 1000 BC and has been home to some of the most famous civilizations on the planet. Olmecs were the first known society of the country and were settled near the present day town of Veracruz. Olmecs further influenced later cultures and then came the Mayans of Yucatan, Aztecs, Toltecs and Zapotecs. Aztecs being last of the pre-ColumbianÊcivilizations controlled most of the present-day Mexico in a highly structured way until the Spanish colonizers arrived in 1519. The technical and scientific prowess of these civilizations is reflected in the temples and pyramids which have survived till date and are world heritage sites today. The colonization brought Catholicism to the country and influenced the local traditions and culture resulting in a great diversity that is found in the country today. Much like the other Latin American countries, Mexico's struggle for independence ended in the early 1800s.