Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, a day in which we observe Mexican Independence Day, even though Mexico declared it's independence from Spain on September 15, 1810.

Whatever. It's a friggin' excuse for Americans to drink. Count me among those who's knowledge of Mexican history extends as far as sticking a lime wedge in a beer bottle and my lifelong quest to find the perfect Margarita.

Still I feel a little guilty; ignorance is never a good thing. Mexico should mean more to us than just Michael Vick's alias. So I did a little research and found these significant dates in Mexican history:

1535. Spain establishes a colonial government in Mexico, which pretty much came as a surprise to the Mayans and Aztecs who kind of felt like they already had some. Spanish becomes the primarily language of the region and 434 years later is spoken by Salma Hayek.

1535-1790. Three centuries of Spanish rule. The population goes from 25 million to less than six million mostly due to European diseases. God, in his infinite wisdom, spares Jessica Alba's ancestors.

To see the next two hundred years, click here...