Great Maya civilization in the south during the 1st millennium AD, then Aztec. Arrival of the Spaniard Cortes at the beginning of the 16th century. Republic in 1824. Continuation of military dictatorships, wars, revolution in 1911/1920 led by Pancho Villa in the north and Zapata in the south. NAFTA economic union agreement with USA and Canada on 01/01/1994.