Mexico is a country in North America, bordered by Guatemala, Belize, and the United States. It is the fifth largest country by area in the Americas. Its capital is Mexico City. It was home to the Mesoamerican civilizations of the Maya and Aztecs, among others. Spanish colonizers arrived in 1521, and in 1821, Mexico gained independence. Famous Mexican painters include José Clemente Orozco, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera, and famous Mexican writers include Juana Inés de la Cruz, Octavio Paz, and Alfonso Reyes.