San Antonio takes on a tragically leading role in Mexico's War of Independence from Spain.

In 1790, San Antonians finally win peace along the frontier from their old foes: the Apaches and the Comanches...though at a terrible cost.

In 1772, San Antonio becomes the capital of Texas and the first great Texas cattle boom ensues.

In 1759, San Antonians launch an expedition 400 miles into Comanche territory.

After thirty years of constant harrasment by the Apaches, San Antonians do what few other frontier peoples ever could: beat them and force them to seek peace.

Between 1718 and 1768, Spanish friars and Native American converts move nearly 1 million metric tons of limestone around the San Antonio River valley and erect the UNESCO World Heritage San Antonio Missions.

The Canary Islanders arrive in San Antonio.

Between 1718 and 1731, San Antonio grows to almost 300 "vecinos," thanks to the establishment of four new missions and the "entrepreneurialism" of some of the soldiers stationed there, who defied Spanish import restrictions to blaze the first trade routes between Spanish Texas and Eastern North America.

On May 1, 1718, Native Americans, Spanish soldiers, settlers, and friars found San Antonio at a spot "the most beautiful in all of New Spain."

Nothing's "wrong" with Mexico of course...but what makes it so different and so maddening?

The great 2013 Mexican Energy Reform.

Things go from bad to worse in this episode, but Mexico begins to take her first tentative steps towards Reform.

Crisis continues to afflict Mexico and PEMEX.

The 1980's are not kind to PEMEX - or to Mexico generally.

Gushers and glory - PEMEX strikes it big in the 1970's.

Disturbing patterns begin to emerge as Mexican institutions come to rely on PEMEX's spectacular wealth to advance their own agendas.

PEMEX truly becomes and integrated oil company.

Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas expropriates the Mexican oil industry.