Urbanization and Environment in Mexico since 1521
Urbanization and Environment in Mexico since 1521
- Matthew VitzMatthew VitzDepartment of History, University of California, San Diego
Summary
Urbanization and environmental change have worked in tandem over the course of Mexican history. Hinterland production, the establishment of market economies, and the intensive transformation of nature have fueled urban growth. The concentration of capital and expertise in cities has, in turn, enabled urban elites to rework the urban environment by creating industrial centers, executing technical-heavy infrastructure, building new subdivisions, and regulating hygiene. From the beaches of Cancún and the air and water pollution of Tijuana’s industrial parks to the prolific silver mines of Zacatecas and the henequen monoculture surrounding Mérida, Yucatán, rapid urban growth and profound changes to the environment within and outside cities have depended on and intersected with each other.
Keywords
Subjects
- History of Mexico
- 1492–1824
- Environmental History
- Urban History
