High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Mexican art consists of the various visual and plastic arts which developed over the geographical area now known as Mexico. The development of these arts roughly follow the history of Mexico, divided into the Mesoamerican era, the colonial period, with the period after the gaining of Independence further subdivided. Mesoamerican art is that produced in an area that encompasses much of what is now central and southern Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire for a period of about 3000 years from 1500 BCE to 1500 CE. During this time, all influences on art production were indigenous with art heavily tied to religion and the ruling class. There was little to no real distinction among art, architecture and writing. The Spanish conquest led to 500 years of colonial rule, but art production would remain tied to religion with most associated with the building and decoration of churches as well as the use of religion to justify continued rule by the Spanish. Almost all art produced was in the European tradition, but indigenous elements remained, beginning a balancing act between European and indigenous traditions which continues to this day.