Mexico is a country

Mexico is a country that is rich in history, tradition and culture and there is evidence of its past peoples, cultures and cities throughout the country. Pre-Columbian ruins are dotted across Mexico including the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza and Tulum, the Zapotec capital of Monte Alban and the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Mexico’s colonial history is also evident in towns such as Oaxaca, Merida and Puebla.

The historic pyramids of Chichen Itza with people Visit the Pyramids of the Chichen Itza in Mexico. Photo credit: shutterstock

Early History – The Aztecs

Mexico was first populated more than 13,000 years ago by complex indigenous civilisations. The great Aztec empire was preceded by advanced civilisations including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec and Maya.

The Olmec were in fact Mexico’s first known society, who settled near what is now Veracruz on the Gulf Coast and are known for their carved head sculptures. The Zapotec built their capital at Monte Alban near Oaxaca, and it is thought that it was home to around 10,000 people. Teotihuacan was built near present day Mexico City between 100 BC and 700AD.

It is the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and at its height had an estimated population of over 200,000. The Mayans thrived between 250 and 900AD and their cities feature ceremonial centres with plazas surrounded by temple pyramids and palaces.

The Aztecs were the last of the great civilisations of pre-Columbian Mexico and they ruled most of Central Mexico from 1428-1521 from their capital at Tenochtitlan, now modern-day Mexico City.

Spanish Arrival and Independence

1519 marked the arrival of the Spanish under Hernan Cortes and in May 1521, the Aztec empire was conquered and Tenochtitlan captured. Over the next 50 years, Spain took control of a large proportion of the Aztec empire, enslaving its indigenous population. Millions of indigenous people died as a result of diseases brought in by the Spanish. Catholic missionaries began to arrive in 1523, building monasteries and converting much of the population of Nueva España (New Spain) to Catholicism.

Mexico was part of the Spanish empire for three centuries, administered as the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It began its struggle for independence in 1810, instigated by a call to rebellion by the parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Independence was finally gained in 1821 under the collaboration of rebel leader Vicente Guerrero and defected royalist general Agustín de Itúrbide who later declared himself president in 1822.

Itúrbide was overthrown by Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1823 and in 1824 the Republic of Mexico was founded followed by years of political turmoil, military uprisings, foreign invasions, loss of territory and civil war. The Mexican-American War ran from 1846 to 1848 and resulted in Mexico’s territory being reduced by half. By 1855, Santa Anna had gone into exile.

By The original uploader was Ruiz at Spanish Wikipedia – Zapata rebelled against Madero in 1911, because of Madero’s slowness to implement land reform.

France invaded Mexico in 1862 and Maximilian of Austria was installed as emperor in 1864, until he was overthrown in 1867 by rebel forces. These rebel forces were led by Benito Juarez who became president of the Restored Republic.

The “Porfiriato” period under the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz began in 1876, ending with the Mexican Revolution of 1910, a violent civil war that lasted for 10 years, killing a tenth of the population. 1934 saw Lazaro Cardenas becoming president and re-establishing the system of communally shared tracts of farmland that benefitted both the Mexican people and the economy of the country. A new constitution was established in 1917 to ensure permanent democracy in Mexico.

An influential old man of Swornik

It may now be asked, how it happened, that the Porte was induced, not only to come to a friendly understanding with Passwan Oglu, but even to accept an arrangement proposed in favour of the Janissaries who had been driven from Belgrade. The truth is, the pride of the Mussulmans revolted at the idea that old Moslems of the True Faith should be banished from a Pachalic, whilst the Christian subjects therein were allowed to rise in importance: indeed, the Mufti gave it as his opinion tbit it was against the law to drive the Faithful from their possessions in favour of the Raja.

Upon this the Divan ordered the Pacha to re-admit the Janissaries; though they had been exiled by a firman, and had joined a rebel in open insurrec-tion. Uadschi Mustafa would have placed himself in opposition to his legitimate government, and exposed himself to severe punishment, had lie resisted the order : the Janissaries accordingly returned.

We may easily anticipate the consequences of this measure: it proved the origin of much mischief.

At first the Janissaries did not press the Pacha for the restoration of their property; nor did they threaten him with violence; and they were satisfied with appointments in the Custom Houses or about the Court. Soon, however, they began to act as in former times; and as might have been expected, the Raja were the first to be made sensible of the change.

In Swileuwa, in the district of Schabaz, lived a man of irreproachable character, named Ranko, Grand Knes of his Kneshina. At a time when the their ranks into a neighbouring hut, where his back might be protected from his assailants. Covered with wounds when he reached the hut, lie yet managed to clear it of its occupants; and then, sitting down, defended himself to the last. He died from loss of blood, —the first victim of internal discord — a hero still remembered with admiration by his countrymen.

Kjurtschia’s enterprise brought death upon himself, but it procured for the district a government conformable to the laws.

An influential old man of Swornik, Mchcmet Kapetan, who had ever been adverse to the innovations of Alibeg, and who, though nearly seventy years of age, was still vigorous and inclined to war, now appeared amongst the Servians, declaring himself ready, with his five sons, to go against the Turks. With his assistance — though he perceived that the people followed him with reluctance — and through the exertions of the native chiefs, Antonie Bogitschewitsch and Jephtiini Sawitseh, these districts succeeded in obtaining peace.

The present edition is reprinted from the volume

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Walter Scott, founder of the romantic historical novel, was born in Edinburgh in 1771. He entered his father’s law office, but before long gave up law for literature. His first works were ballads and long narrative poems. In 1814 he published the novel Waverley, which established his position as a writer. At the very height of his brilliant career he found himself morally obliged to pay off an enormous debt, and spent the rest of his life trying to do so. Scott wrote several short stories. The Bridal of Janet Dalrymple, not so well known as the far longer Wandering Willie’s Tale from Redgauntlet, is a well-written and (for Scott) surprisingly short and closely-woven narrative.

The present edition is reprinted from the volume, Scottish Love Tales, London, no date.

The Bridal of Janet Dalrymple

Miss Janet Dalrymple, daughter of the first Lord Stair, and Dame Margaret Ross, had engaged herself without the knowledge of her parents to the Lord Rutherford, who was not acceptable to them either on account of his political principles, or his want of fortune. The young couple broke a piece of gold together, and pledged their troth in the most solemn manner; and it is said the young lady imprecated dreadful evils on herself should she break her plighted faith.

Shortly after, a suitor who was favored by Lord Stair, and still more so by his lady, paid his addresses to Miss Dalrymple. The young lady refused the proposal, and being pressed on the subject, confessed her secret engagement. Lady Stair, a woman accustomed to universal submission (for even her husband did not dare to contradict her), treated this objection as a trifle, and insisted upon her daughter yielding her consent to marry the new suitor, David Dunbar, son and heir to David Dunbar of Baldoon, in Wigtonshire.

The first lover, a man of very high spirit, then interfered by letter, and insisted on the right he had acquired by his troth plighted with the young lady. Lady Stair sent him for answer, that her daughter, sensible of her undutiful behavior in entering into a contract unsanctioned by her parents, had retracted her unlawful vow, and now refused to fulfil her engagement with him.

The lover in return declined positively to receive such an answer from anyone but his mistress in person; and as she had to deal with a man who was both of a most determined character, and of too high condition to be trifled with, Lady Stair was obliged to consent to an interview between Lord Rutherford and her daughter.

S: https://tour.ephesusday.com/the-bridal-of-janet-dalrymple-part-1/

Above all things however

Correspond to the Italian Fuorus- riti, banditti, or to the Condotticri of some of the Spanish provinces. The consideration, that the rulers whoso administration they opposed were infidels, gave them a much stronger feeling of being in the right than the latter could have. The Ileyducs lay in ambush for such Turks as they knew would be passing the road, especially those sent with treasure to Constantinople.

Tins, however, did not prevent their claiming the reputation of honesty and fidelity. When two of them associated together, one was styled ArambasUa, captain or leader; and frequently they assembled in small bands. They had their Jatcitzi (concealers), who sheltered them, singly, in winter, and whom they served as day labourers or shepherds. With the spring they returned into the forests, and joined their bands’; and when one of them happened to be missing, they all in common considered themselves bound to avenge his death.

There is no doubt that the proceedings of these IIeyducs excited a certain ferment in the nation, awakening recollections of the past, and keeping alive the spirit of warfare. Up to this time, however, they had always been disregarded : frequently, also, the Christian population  who were not very conscientiously spared by them, and who always had to make good the losses they causedtook part against them.

Notwithstanding these disorders, the position of affairs first established  the supremacy of the followers of Islam and the subjection of the Christians was upon the whole maintained. The difference caused by religion was the more striking, as it was unconnected with difference of descent. The Spahis, at least,  though not in any way tracing their origin to the ancient nobility of the country  were mostly of Servian extraction and language.

However none regarded it as an act of arbitrary injustice, emanating from personal dislike, that the Christians should be held in exclusion from State affairs, from military command, and from public life. It had always been so: the system, as has been shown, was intimately connected with the principle of Islamism.

In the book of the “ Sultan’s Commands,” compiled by a chief magistrate of Bagdad, in the fifth century of the Hegira, the duties of the Giaours  that is, of those subjects who are not Moslems  are thus specified. “ They must be recognised by their dress; their dwellings must not be loftier than those of the Mussulmans ; the sound of their bells must not be heard; they must not ride either horses or dromedaries.” Even in the 18th century, a decree of Osmar was renewed, by which the “ Infidels ” are forbidden to study the learned Arabic, or to teach their children the Koran. Above all things, however, “they may not wear armsf;”

Mid this Avas so completely a matter of course, that it is scarcely ever mentioned afterwards. The Baja were considered a weaponless herd, whose duty was obedience and subjection. Such was in general the state of Scrvia in the latter half of the 18th century.

Who should I book Insurance with?

When it comes to purchasing insurance for expeditions to Antarctica, we recommend going with well-established insurers with commendable reputations. Personal recommendation from friends or family members who have been bodes well, but so does surfing the web for forums on the subjects. These Tripadvisor and Whirlpool forums, for example, contain a lot of useful info as travellers share their personal experiences and information they have gathered. You can use an online insurance calculator (like compare the market ) to swiftly compare quotes, before delving deeper into the fine print of each policy. At the very least, you’ll see which companies deal with Antarctica expeditions, so you can research each one individually. Your country of residence will play a big part in which insurance covers are suitable, so make sure to include your country of origin, as well as age and medical conditions.

Another word of warning here: many Antarctica insurance policies will claim to offer you cover which runs in the millions of dollars for medical emergencies, and the tens of thousands for loss of personal belongings (forgot to consider insuring your expensive camera gear? It’s never too late!) yet it’s only upon studying the fine print that you discover endless exclusions, such as for pre-existing conditions or purchase of second-hand goods. We really can’t stress enough how important it is to know exactly what insurance cover you’re purchasing.

Ask your tour operator – Of course, all tour operators dealing with expeditions to Antarctica will have their preferred insurers, companies they have used for many years, whom they trust wholeheartedly. Should you still be confused by the end of your search, and be none the wiser, do trust your tour operator. If they are responsible, professional and experienced in Antarctica voyages, they’ll be working with an insurance company to match.

Here at Chimu Adventurers, we are your Antarctica experts (not insurance experts!) but we will endeavour to help you find the insurance cover which suits you best. We work with several travel insurance companies that will cover you for your Antarctica expedition, depending on your circumstances. For a consultation, contact our experienced staff today.

If you are looking at another policy which you have found yourself, please speak to our destination specialists to see if the cover is sufficient for the cruise or Antarctic experience you are taking. We would also be more than happy to find you an insurance cover policy, even if you’re not traveling to Antarctica with us!

Booking a trip to Antarctica can be daunting, but it really doesn’t have to be – the right insurance cover will ensure the only thing you have to worry about, as you set off to explore the icy wonders of this incredible continent, is just how many unforgettable experiences you’ll have and memories you’ll bring home. The right insurance will take care of all the rest.

 

Caribbean Cruises

Cruises to the Caribbean, South Seas and across the Mediterranean may still be booming, but nowadays more and more people are heading north – to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Hurtigruten’ means ‘speedy route’ in Norwegian, and is the motto of the country’s traditional mail ships which have connected towns the length of Norway’s 2,700-kilometre west coast since 1893. Today, the combined cargo, passenger and cruise ships ply the coastline of Norway, from Bergen to Kirkenes, in six-and-a-halfdays, as well as passing through the vast Trollfjord and Geirangerfjord fiyords in the summer.

As well as ensuring Norwegians up and down the coast get their letters on time, however, the Hurtigmten route has been transformed in recent decades into something entirely new – a tourist attraction of international renown. A survey on the theme of customer satisfaction carried out last season showed that no less than 96 percent of those questioned were highly satisfied’ with what they called the ‘most beautiful sea voyage in the world’. Almost 5,000 passengers took part in the survey – what greater evidence of people’s desire to travel the frozen North could you possibly want?

Arctic habitat

There is a huge amount to discover on the cruises, which offer repeated opportunities to watch the fascinating local fauna in their Arctic habitat, a harsh wilderness dominated by imposing glaciers and strikingly beautiful fjord landscapes. The coming year is a big one in polar history: polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen was bom isoyears ago, and it has been exactly a century since Roald Amundsen conquered the South Pole.

Hurtigruten is also celebrating the two polar heroes, as Captain Richard With founded the Hurtigruten line along the Norwegian coast in 1893, the same year Fridtjof Nansen set off for the Arctic Ocean on his newly-built research ship, Tram. Three years later, the Tram returned from the Arctic and Richard With established a shipping line from Norway to Spitzbergen with the intention of enabling travellers to experience the beauty of the Arctic world in icy reality.

Hurtigruten has been offering sea voyages to the polar regions ever since. This historic connection with polar pioneers Nansen and Amundsen is being celebrated in 2011. On Hurtigruten’s expeditionary voyages aboard the MS Fram along the coasts of Spitzbergen and Greenland, travellers can see the fascinating Arctic summer up close, and together with Seetour Austria, Hurtigruten is offering cruises at attractive special prices from June to August 2011.

More information: https://guide.ensarislamoglu.com/caribbean-cruises/