I’m not up on my rebozos and expect it will be some time, probably never, before I can rattle off Mesoamerican garments.
Questions
Who did Porfirio Diaz oust in an 1876 coup? In 1872 this person had succeeded the long-time leader Benito Juárez after their death in office, with the coup taking place just after he was re-elected.
SEBASTIÁN LERDO DE TEJADA
Only in charge for a period in 1911, who succeeded Porfirio Diaz as president and was known as the ‘white’ or ‘pure’ president?
FRANCISCO LEÓN DE LA BARRA
What three-year civil war took place from 1857 to 1860 under Benito Juárez?
WAR OF REFORM
On the bank of Lake Xochimilco, which first Toltec city featured chinampa culture? It is now part of Mexico City with its own metro station.
CULHUACAN
Which city is the fifth most populous in the country and capital of the State of Mexico? Their football team has won the Mexican Primera División ten times, only behind América and Guadalajara.
TOLUCA
Previously serving a term as Mexican president from 1920 to 1924, which president was assassinated by José de León Toral after winning the 1928 election, but before he could start his period of office?
ALVARO OBREGÓN
Along with Tlacopan, which other two cities beginning with the letter T made up the Aztec Triple Alliance?
TENOCHTITLAN AND TETZCOCO
Occurring in both mainland Spain and Spanish America, which reforms occurred under the Spanish Crown in the 1700s?
BOURBON REFORMS
Its name being derived from a Latin adjective meaning ‘twentieth’, what is a base 20 numeric system as used by the Mayans?
VIGESIMAL
His work in documentating indigenous culture earning him the title of ‘the first anthropologist’, which Franciscan friar wrote the Florentine Codex?
BERNARDINO DE SAHAGUN
Located about 75 miles by road from Mexico City, which archaeological site in Morelos may be translated as ‘in the house of flowers’?
XOCHICALCO
The name itself coming from a mythical homeland that means ‘place of the herons’, who has been credited with popularising the term ‘Aztec’?
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT
Constituted of smaller units called ‘calpolli’ and led by a dynastic ruler known as a ‘tlatoani’, what was the term for a pre-Columbian Nahuatl city-state?
ALTEPETL
Sharing its name with a modern Mexican state, who allied with the Spanish against the Aztecs?
TLAXCALA
A soldier who participated in Hernan Cortes’ conquest of the Aztec empire and later a governor of Guatemala, who wrote the “True History of the Conquest of New Spain”?
BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO
The tenth Huey Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, who was Moctezuma II’s successor, only ruling for 80 days, being succeeded by final Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc?
CUITLAHUAC
The first in the Americas being established at Santo Domingo, what term was used for a high court established by the Crown of New Spain?
REAL AUDIENCIA / AUDENCIA
Lasting 40 years, with whom did the Spanish have a significantly long war in Mexico during the 16th century, with their name becoming a pejorative term for a ‘barbarian’?
CHICHIMECAS
Along with John Quincy Adams, which Spanish ‘minister plenitentiary’ gave his name to the 1819 treaty that ceded Florida to the US?
LUIS DE ONIS
Used in modern historical analysis although the system had a more fluid structure that allowed movement between its divisions, what term meaning ‘lineage’ in Spanish and Portuguese is a social identifier?
CASTA
Also known as an ayuntamiento, what was a Spanish colonial council that could either be appointed or elected?
CABILDO
The first Catholic saint indigenous to the Americas, to whom did the Virgin of Guadulupe appear to in 1531? His cloak is said to be housed in the basilica dedicated to her.
JUAN DIEGO
Containing a city in their name, by what two-word term were Spanish trading ships called, with work being done to get the trade route from this city to Acapulco added to the World Heritage List?
MANILA GALLEONS
Home to several historically important cities along the ‘Bicentennial Route’, which state’s largest city is León and also contains Dolores Hidalgo?
GUANAJATO
With a five-word title, which road connected Mexico City with the interior of New Spain, running all the way up to San Juan Pueblo in New Mexico?
CAMINO REAL DE TIERRA ADENTRO
Inevitably crushed, which revolt took place in Durango from 1616 to 1620 when Indians tried to break free from the rule of New Spain?
TEPEHUAN
Taking place in Santa Fe, now capital of New Mexico, what is the Pueblo revolt of 1680 also known as?
POPAY’S REBELLION
Calling themselves ‘Soldiers of the virgin’, which indigenous Mayan community gave its name to a revolt in Chiapas that occurred in 1712? Renouncing the authority of the Catholic hierarchy and establishing a priesthood of their own, there are no prizes for guessing how this one turned out!
TZELTAL
Derived from a Latin word meaning ‘protection’ or ‘defence’, what is a fortified base or jail established by the Spanish, with part of the development of the martial art Arnis taking place in those of the Philippines?
PRESIDIO
Proposing that his discovery be named ‘panchromium’ or ‘erythonium’, which Mexican scientist discovered vanadium in 1801?
ANDRES MANUEL DEL RIO
Now a national holiday that celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain, on what day was the Cry of Dolores?
16 SEPTEMBER
Also known as the rather dully named Plan of the Three Guarantees, which plan that helped achieve Mexican independence is named for a city in the state of Guerrero?
PLAN DE IGUALA
With events during his time in office including the disastrous Pastry War, who led a coup d’etat against Vicente Guerrero and had three spells as the president of Mexico?
ANASTASIO BUSTAMENTE
Mexico ceded an incredible 55% of its territory as a result of signing which treaty that ended the Mexican-American war in 1848?
GUADULUPE HIDALGO
In which revolution of 1854 to 1855 was Santa Anna ousted and exiled, that like the Plan de Iguala takes its name from a city in Guerrero?
AYUTLA
Nicknamed the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, what is the capital and largest city of Morelos? This place was the setting for Malcolm Lowry’s novel “Under the Volcano” and it was also where Charlie Mingus died.
CUERNAVACA
Captured and assassinated along with his vice-president in the ‘Ten Tragic Days’, whose army murdered Francisco Madero?
VICTORIANA HUERTA
Taking place in the central state of Guanajato, in which 1915 battle did Alvaro Obregon destroy Pancho Villa’s forces and eliminate his effectiveness?
CELAYA
Called ‘the gentleman president’, who was president for most of World War II, coming to power because of his direct connection to his predecessor Lázaro Cárdenas?
MANUEL ÁVILA CAMACHO
Named after the sobriquet of Plutarco Elías Calles, what was the period from 1928 to 1934 known as before it was ended by Lazaro Cardenas, being the period that Alvaro Obregón would have had the presidency had he not been assassinated?
MAXIMATO
The first civilian president following a string of revolutionary generals, who was president from 1946 to 1952 during the Mexican miracle?
MIGUEL ALEMÁN
The number of deaths being widely disputed, at which massacre that occurred shortly before the Olympics during the Mexican Dirty War did Mexican armed forces open fire on a group of unarmed civilians?
TLATELOLCO
Considered to be one of Mexico’s most unpopular former presidents, which extremely influential and controversial leader from 1988 to 1994 won elections by the narrowest of margins, being accused by many of electoral fraud?
CARLOS SALINAS
A major overland transport route prior to the opening of the Panama Canal, what is the isthmus that is the narrowest point between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, having a name that means ‘Jaguar Mountain’?
TEHUANTEPEC
What remote island over 200km off the west coast of Baja California has along with its surrounding islets been declared a biosphere reserve, partly to restore the vegetation that had been decimated by feral goats?
GUADULUPE ISLAND
An Australian urban legend suggested that these were used in McDonald’s apple pies. Which fruit, that is also known as a mirliton or choko, is an edible green plant of the gourd family with white flesh?
CHAYOTE
The plant known as epazote is also known as Jesuit’s or Mexican what? Although edible, humans have been known to die after overdosing on its essential oils, this being attributed to the ascaridole content.
TEA
Sometimes being ‘candied’, what type of food would you expect to eat if you ordered camote at a Mexican restaurant?
SWEET POTATO
Having two cultivated forms called ‘agua’ and ‘leche’, what edible root is known as Mexican yam bean or Mexican turnip?
JICAMA
Resembling a crabapple and used as an offering during the Day of the Dead, the fruit tejocote comes from the Mexican version of which tree?
HAWTHORN
Also known as the soapapple in Caribbean English, what is a green ground fruit, one version of which has a black interior?
SAPOTE
Used as a poison for fishing by indigenous populations, which yam has been used in steroids and oral contraceptive pills?
BARBASCO
Designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig at the behest of Emperor Maximilian and home to some of Mexico’s tallest buildings, which wide avenue runs diagonally across the heart of Mexico City?
PASEO DE LA REFORMA
Getting its name from a Secretary of Foreign Affairs, what foreign policy of Mexico says they should not judge regime change in other nations as that is their sovereignty?
ESTRADA DOCTRINE
Led by Italy and not to be confused with something that offers useful discounts, which organisation is against the expansion of seats on the UN security council?
UNITING FOR CONSENSUS / COFFEE CLUB
Located on the US border with residents calling themselves ‘Cachanillas’ after a plant used to build shacks, what is the capital of Baja California (North), despite Tijuana being the largest city?
MEXICALI
Described by John Steinbeck in his 1947 novel “The Pearl”, what is the capital and largest city of Baja California Sur, sharing its name with the capital of a different country?
LA PAZ
The second half of its name coming from a Chiapas governor who promoted the state annexation to Mexico, what is the capital and largest city of Chiapas?
TUXTLA GUTIERREZ
Confusingly named both the Athens and Detroit of Mexico, the latter an obvious reference to its automotive industry, what is the capital and largest city of Coahuila?
SALTILLO
The long form of the name including ‘de los Bravo’, what is the capital of Guerrero, though Acapulco is the largest city in the state?
CHILPANCINGO
Cornish influence is felt in which capital of Hidalgo, with a seven-time champions football club being founded by them and pastes being a savoury food associated with the city?
PACHUCA
Known for nearly 300 years as Valladolid, which Unesco listed site is the capital and largest city of Michoacán?
MORELIA
Juan Escutia, boy hero of the Battle of Chapultepec where he is reported to have wrapped himself in the national flag and leapt to his death, was born in what capital and largest city of Nayarit?
TEPIC
Although its largest city is Cancún, what ‘Place of the Red Wood’ is the capital of Quintana Roo, sharing its name with a bay that washes the border with Belize?
CHETUMAL
Called ‘The Pearl of the Humaya’, what city is the capital and largest city of Sinaloa? Dog whisperer César Millán was born here and Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán lived here before being captured by the police, not that I’m suggesting a link between the two!
CULIACÁN
Formerly called Pitic and considered one of the most livable cities in Mexico, which ‘Ciudad del Sol’ is the capital of Sonora?
HERMOSILLO
Nicknamed ‘The emerald of the south-east’, what is the capital and largest city of Tabasco?
VILLAHERMOSA
Named after the first president of Mexico, what is the capital of Tamaulipas, with Reynosa being the state’s largest city?
VICTORIA (Guadalupe Victoria)
Although the largest city in the state of Veracruz is its namesake city, which ‘City of flowers’ is its capital, being home to an Anthropological Museum where you can see an Olmec head?
XALAPA
George W. Bush visited what capital of Yucatan to meet Felipe Calderón in order to create an ‘Initiative’ named for the city, which is a security co-operation agreement between the US and Central American countries aimed at tackling the usual suspects?
MÉRIDA
The tallest dam in North America, giving rise to a hydroelectric power plant, is officially named for which engineer and alternatively known as Chicoasén Dam after its location in Chiapas state?
MANUEL MORENO TORRES
Sharing the award with Paul Crutzen and Frank Sherwood Rowland, which Mexican became the first Nobel science laureate born in the country when he was recognised for his work on ozone with the 1995 Chemistry prize?
MARIO MOLINA
Situated in the state of Quintana Roo, which resort a day trip from Cancun is known for its beaches and Mayan cliffside ruins, with a particular highlight being the Temple of the God of Wind?
TULUM
The third highest cable-stayed example in the world, which highest bridge in the Americas was completed in 2012 and is situated between the states of Sinaloa and Durango?
BALUARTE
Lying near to a tributary of the Usumacinta and only known to non-Mayans from 1946, which Mayan site in Chiapas that has a name meaning ‘vulture hill’ is famous for its murals rather than its architecture?
BONAMPAK
Directed by Emilio Fernández and starring Dolores del Río in the title role, which Mexican film won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 1946, the award that was later to become the Palme d’Or?
MARIA CANDELARIA
Loosely based on the novel “Halma” by Spanish realist Benito Pérez Galdós, who some consider to be equal to the likes of Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy, which Luis Bunuel film was a co-winner of the Palme d’Or in 1961?
VIRIDIANA
What is the preparation of corn in an alkali solution called, with products derived from this process including tortilla chips and hominy?
NIXTAMALISATION
Very popular during the Day of the Dead and typically accompanying tamales, what is a hot beverage prepared from corn that has undergone the process of nixtamalisation in order to make hominy?
ATOLE
Occasionally containing cinnamon, anise or vanilla, what is a thick chocolate-based atole beverage sometimes eaten for breakfast with churros? Why not start the day with dessert!
CHAMPURRADO
Served as both an everyday meal and popular on festive occasions, which stew consists mainly of hominy and meat, with there being different versions in the three colours of the Mexican tricolour?
POZOLE
Some of the more common varieties including tamarindo, jamaica and horchata, what light non-alcoholic beverages can be flavoured with things like chia seeds, being widely available from street vendors and convenience stores?
AGUAS FRESCAS
Vividly yellow and flavoured with vanilla and according to tradition created in a convent, what is an eggnog like alcoholic drink popular in Central America?
ROMPOPE
Considered a speciality of Celaya in Guanajato, what thick caramel sauce is a type of dulce de leche made from goat’s milk?
CAJETA
The last surviving player from the 1950 World Cup, which goalkeeper was the first player to play in five World Cups, also being part of the team that gained Mexico’s first victory against Czechoslovakia in 1962?
ANTONIO CARBAJAL
Showing a lovely progression by winning bronze, silver and gold in consecutive Olympics from 1948 to 1956, who has won four diving medals for Mexico, including that sole gold?
JOAQUIN CAPILLA
Giving its name to the Project set up by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert at the beginning of the 1960s, in which Mexican state is Zihuatanejo, where the two main characters arranged to meet in “The Shawshank Redemption”?
GUERRERO
The final work before his death in 1963, from which Aldous Huxley novel did the idea for Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert’s Zihuatanejo Project originate?
ISLAND
Leading to the 1964 co-authored publication “The Psychedelic Experience” and referenced in that work’s sub-title, which book did Timothy Leary adapt to use as a guide for the LSD sessions at Zihuatanejo?
TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD
Played without a break but still following the traditional pattern of a three-movement symphony, which work of classical music by Carlos Chávez is probably his most well known, as key to his identity as the “5th” is to Beethoven and “Bolero” is to Ravel?
SINFONÍA INDIA
Carlos Chávez’s “Sinfonía India” is notable for including native percussion instruments from which indigneous people, who are mainly based around the state of Sonora and the south-western United States?
YAQUI
Heavily influenced by “Citizen Kane”, which 1962 work by Carlos Fuentes involves the family of the title character crowding around his bed in order to get him to reveal the location of his will?
THE DEATH OF ARTEMIO CRUZ
At just over 60 pages, which 1962 ‘dreamlike’ novel by Carlos Fuentes is told entirely in the second person and was adapted into the Italian horror-film “La strega in Amore” or “The Witch”?
AURA
Which 1975 Carlos Fuentes novel covers 20 centuries of European and American culture, prominently featuring the construction of El Escorial by Philip II?
TERRA NOSTRA
Depicting a dark future for Mexico through a character with total recall, which Carlos Fuentes novel’s structure comes directly from “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”?
CHRISTOPHER UNBORN
What was Carlos Fuentes’ first novel, an ‘instant classic’ built around Federico Robles, a powerful financier who abandoned his revolutionary ideals? It serves as a ‘kaleidoscopic presentation’ of Mexico City.
WHERE THE AIR IS CLEAR
Making reference to its founders, what is the nickname of the Mexican city of Córdoba, which gives its name to the treaty that confirmed Mexican independence in 1821 and was severely damaged in the 1973 Veracruz earthquake?
THE CITY OF THIRTY KNIGHTS / GENTLEMEN
Which large complex of fortresses on an island overlooking the seaport of Veracruz was the last Spanish stronghold to be handed over in the battle for Mexican Independence, with first president Guadalupe Victoria decreeing the expulsion of all Spaniards remaining in the country?
SAN JUAN DE ULÚA
As well as being worn by Frida Kahlo, the rebozo, a garment worn by women that is similar to a shawl, was worn by which actress known as ‘La Doña’ from her role as the title character in the 1943 Mexican film “Doña Bárbara”, an adaptation of a Rómulo Gallegos novel?
MARÍA FÉLIX
Also sporting the rebozo like Frida Kahlo and María Félix has been Margareta Zavala, a former first lady of which president, with her making a run for that role as an independent candidate although she withdrew from contention before the election?
FELIPE CALDERÓN
Whittipedia 