Django is a Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean design. It originated from the name of guitarist Django Reinhardt and was first released in 2005. Django emphasizes loose coupling, explicit configuration, and development speed. It uses the MTV pattern rather than MVC, with models, templates, and views instead of models, views, and controllers. The document then provides steps to create a Django project and blog application, including generating models, linking the app to the admin interface, setting up URLs and templates.