Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO (Series Finale December 11)

EMPIRE BUILDERS: Mexican revolutionares, including one armed General and future Álvaro Obregón.
Courtesy of Museo Nacional de la Revolución
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: Mexican revolutionares, including one armed General and future Álvaro Obregón.

Premies Mondays, Nov. 20 - Dec. 11, 2023 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport! Encores Thursdays, Nov. 23 - Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Spanish Conquest laid the ground for 300 years of colonial rule which made Spain the richest country in Europe and divided Mexico with a class system that still affects today's society. After the conquest, Mexico became the world's largest producer of silver which fueled Europe's trade with Asia.

Empire Builders: Mexico: Preview

Meanwhile, conquistadors and friars spread out along so called "royal roads" which linked with the desert frontiers of the north, attempting convert Apache and Comanche tribes who would battle Spaniards, Mexicans and Americans for centuries.

Advertisement
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - Mexican Revolution leaders, Venustiano Carranza and Álvaro Obregón, who were both later assassinated.
Courtesy of Museo Nacional de la Revolución
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - Mexican Revolution leaders, Venustiano Carranza and Álvaro Obregón, who were both later assassinated.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1: "The Spanish Conquest" Premieres Monday, Nov. 20 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Encore Thursday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - The Spanish Conquest laid the ground for 300 years of colonial rule which made Spain the richest country in Europe and divided Mexico with a class system that still affects today's society. After the conquest, Mexico became the world’s largest producer of silver which fueled Europe’s trade with Asia. Meanwhile, conquistadors and friars spread out along so called “royal roads“ which linked with the desert frontiers of the north, attempting convert Apache and Comanche tribes who would battle Spaniards, Mexicans and Americans for centuries.

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 1 - El Tajín, a significant city of Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.
Pilot Productions
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 1 - El Tajín, a significant city of Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.

Episode 2: "The War of Independence" Premieres Monday, Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Encore Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - The War of Independence charts the violent struggle by Mexicans to break free, the subsequent loss of almost half of its territory to the U.S., and the resulting decades of instability that followed. Examine the initial uprising led by revolutionary priests Hidalgo and Morelos, who both lost their lives as a result, and the role played by one of Mexico's most controversial characters, General Antonio López de Santa Ana.

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 2 - Antonio López de Santa Ana, five-time president of Mexico.
Courtesy of Alhóndiga of Guanajuato
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 2 - Antonio López de Santa Ana, five-time president of Mexico.

Episode 3: "Civil War: Church versus State" Premieres Monday, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Encore Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - The conflict between church and state led to civil war and a French invasion which made an Austrian prince, Maximillian, emperor of the so called Second Empire. He was defeated and executed by Benito Juárez, one of Mexico’s great independence heroes who himself was succeeded by Porfirio Díaz, who would rule Mexico for more than 30 years.

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 3 - Porfirio Díaz, general and political who served seven terms as President of Mexico.
Courtesy of Castillo de Chapultepec, Mexico City
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 3 - Porfirio Díaz, general and political who served seven terms as President of Mexico.

Episode 4: "The Mexican Revolution" Premieres Monday, Dec. 11 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Encore Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - The final episode explores the Mexican Revolution in the early part of the last century — another hugely bloody event, but one which achieved the foundations of a modern Mexican state with the myriad cultures we know today. The episode also examines the roles of revolutionaries Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Venustiano Carranzas and Álvaro Obregón, who were all assassinated; the subsequent eruption of violent religious conflict called the Cristero War; and the nation-building of the Cárdenas government that followed. The fusion of art and politics in the revolutionary era was epitomized by the iconic muralism developed by artists such as Diego Rivera.

Advertisement
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - Francisco “Pancho” Villa (undated photo)
Courtesy of Museo Nacional de la Revolución
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - Francisco “Pancho” Villa (undated photo)

Watch On Your Schedule:

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO is available to stream now with KPBS Passport, a member benefit that unlocks exclusive shows and extra content on the PBS App.

EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - A Diego Rivera mural illustrating Mexico's revolutionary story, its heroes and villains.
Courtesy of Museo Nacional de la Revolución
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 4 - A Diego Rivera mural illustrating Mexico's revolutionary story, its heroes and villains.
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 1 - Aztec mural
Pilot Productions
/
APT
EMPIRE BUILDERS: MEXICO, Episode 1 - Aztec mural