XIII
MEXICO
Prior  to  the  invasion  of  Mexico  by  the
Spaniards,  the  Aztecs  who  inhabited  the  country, ­
  had  developed  a  wonderful  system  of  religion, ­
  education,  civilization  and  government. ­
  Hernando  Cortes  landed  April  12,
1519,  at  about  where  Vera  Cruz  is  now  located, ­
  marched  inland,  and  with  the  aid  of
friendly  Indians  succeeded  in  finally  conquering ­
  the  inhabitants,  burning  their  cities,  destroying ­
  their  libraries  and  killing  their  emperors, ­
  in  reward  for  his  service  being  made
Governor  of  New  Spain  as  the  Spaniards
called  this  land  in  1522.  The  Spanish  possessions ­
  in  Mexico  and  Central  America  were
united  for  the  purposes  of  government,  and  a
viceroy  appointed  first  in  1535,  this  method  for
the  control  of  these  colonies  being  used  until
1821.  Spanish  rule  in  Mexico,  as  with  all  of
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