Abstract

RODRIGUEZ BARBA, Fabiola. From Crystal Palace to the Eiffel Tower. Mexico’s through the 19th Century Universal Expositions. Rev. hist. Am. [online]. 2022, n.162, pp.183-212.  Epub Feb 27, 2024. ISSN 2663-371X.  https://doi.org/10.35424/rha.162.2022.1073.

The purpose of this article is to argue that Mexico’s involvement in the Universal Exhibitions and World Fairs of the nineteenth century can be considered as the immediate background of what would be called cultural diplomacy in the twentieth century. The evidence found is that Mexico started a tradition that will remain nowadays. The influence of history, as well as the richness and diversity of its artistic and cultural production were their “letters of credence” that allows the country to be appreciated and recognized internationally. Based on testimonies from those who witnessed and attend the exhibitions, as well as official documents and papers of that period, the features of these exhibitions were exposed. To this end, this paper analyzes Mexico’s involvement in three of the most important exhibitions of nineteenth century: 1851, 1889 and 1900. This selection allows to compare different contexts and at the same time contributes to observe Mexican political narrative evolution. This article aims to show that the Universal Exhibitions were an opportunity for Mexico to be known and to promote an idea of a country that was aligned with the canons of that century: progress, civility and peace.

Keywords : Mexico; universal exhibitions; culture; cultural diplomacy; nineteenth century.