• Around Mexico City
  • Mexico
  • Tlaxcala
  • Puebla
  • Morelos
  • Hidalgo
• Colonial States
  • Queretaro
  • Guanajuato
  • Aguascalientes
  • San Luis Potosí
  • Jalisco
  • Zacatecas
  • Michoacán
• The Pacific
  • Sinaloa
  • Chihuahua
  • Coahuila
  • Nuevo León
  • State of Durango
  • State of Nayarit
  • Tamaulipas
• The North
  • Sonora
  • Chihuahua
  • Colima
  • Colima
  • Mexico
• Baja Peninsular
  • Baja California Sur
  • Baja California Norte
• The South
  • Oaxaca
  • Chiapas
  • Tobasco
  • Veracruz
• The Yucatan Peninsular
  • Yucatán
  • Quintana Roo
  • Campeche

• Famous Mexican Cities
• Maya Civilization
• Useful Resources
• News Aarchives

Mexico Travel :: State of Tabasco

The steamy Gulf state of Tabasco was the site of La Venta, the largest Olmec city, which contained 18,000 inhabitants at its zenith between 800 and 500 BC. On an island on the Tonala River delta 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Gulf, archeologists found the remains of a 34-meter (112-foot)-tall ceremonial mound, four colossal heads, mosaic floors in the shape of jaguar masks and tombs made of basalt pillars, containing offerings of jade figurines arranged in circular ceremonial scenes. Between AD 200 and 900, Tabasco lay on the western border of the Classic Maya expansion. The only major site was Comalcalco, northwest of Villahermosa. After AD 900, the state was the home of the Chontal-speaking Putun Maya, who were known to the Aztecs as the Olmeca-Xicallanca. These aggressive traders penetrated as far as Oaxaca, Cholula and Cacaxtla in central Mexico; not much is known about their culture along the Gulf coast.

In 1518, Juan de Grijalva landed in Tabasco, and he was soon followed by Cortes, who landed his expedition at a Putun Maya town called Potonchan. The Spanish won a bloody victory against a large Maya army near a town up the Rio Grijalva named Tabasco (now Villahermosa) and were given a peace offering of 20 Indian maidens. Among them was La Malinche, whose assistance proved crucial to the Spanish effort. Cortes passed through the region again in 1525 on his expedition to Honduras, but the state wasn't conquered until the next decade by Francisco de Montejo. Spanish colonization arrived slowly in Tabasco due to its isolation and lack of rich resources to exploit. During the last three decades, huge oil deposits have been found underneath and offshore Tabasco; the state is now booming with petroleum-induced prosperity.

Featured Mexico Travel Destinations

Museo Estatal de las Culturas Populares: Monterrey

Museo Estatal de las Culturas Populares: Monterrey We are in process of collecting information about this site….

Almaden Minerals Ltd.: Campanario Project, Mexico Optioned to Consolidated Spire Ventures

Almaden Minerals Ltd.: Campanario Project, Mexico Optioned to Consolidated Spire Ventures Almaden Minerals Ltd. (Almaden) (TSX:AMM) is pleased to announce that it has optioned it's 100%

Mexico win Under-17 title

Mexico win Under-17 title Mexico became the first CONCACAF team to win the FIFA Under-17 World Championship after defeating defending champions Brazil 3-0 in the final

Mexico to take ‘appropriate steps’

Mexico to take ‘appropriate steps’ The Mexican government said Friday that Venezuela must give a satisfactory explanation for President Hugo Chávez’ biting criticism of his

Gamma threatens Belize, Honduras, Mexico

Gamma threatens Belize, Honduras, Mexico Portions of Belize, Honduras and Mexico were under a tropical storm warning Saturday from Gamma, the 24th storm of the record

Suspect arrested in northern Mexico in connection with series of rapes

Suspect arrested in northern Mexico in connection with series of rapes Mexico Authorities say a Guatemalan man originally arrested for burglary is now being questioned

Steroid crackdown results in indictments in U.S. and Mexico

Steroid crackdown results in indictments in U.S. and Mexico Federal officials on Thursday announced the indictments of 23 people and eight Mexico-based manufacturers of anabolic steroids

Mexico warns of long drug fight, more deaths ahead

Mexico warns of long drug fight, more deaths ahead Mexico warned on Tuesday of a long fight against drug traffickers and more deaths among security forces

Mexico 28-day T-bill yield tumbles to 8.14 percent

Mexico 28-day T-bill yield tumbles to 8.14 percent The yield on Mexico's benchmark 28-day Cetes, or T-bills, tumbled 28 basis points to 8.14 percent on

Mexico City mayor's last speech a platform for next move

Mexico City mayor's last speech a platform for next move Mexico City's popular leftist mayor bid farewell to the city's 9 million residents yesterday during a