Understanding history - 11th October 2021

Mexico City has lots of statues of important people. There was a statue of Christopher Columbus in the city centre. It was on the city’s main street. But last year the mayor removed this statue.

The mayor moved the Columbus statue to a park. There will be a new statue on the main street. This statue is of an Olmec woman. The Olmec people were in Mexico from 1200 to 400 BCE.

Many people don't like statues of Columbus. In other countries, people are taking his statues down too.

Columbus wanted to sail a ship from Europe to Asia. He got money for this from the King of Spain in 1492. He sailed from Spain and arrived in the Americas. Then, Spain took over the land. And Spain ruled the people.

The mayor doesn't want to change history. She wants to celebrate Mexican people and their history.