BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR HISTORY: MAIN STAGES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The history of Baja California Sur ranges from pre-Hispanic times, Spanish explorations, religious missions, and the contemporary era, until it is finally conceived as an autonomous state of the United Mexican States.

Spanish explorers glimpsed in Baja California Sur an endless source of pearls, in addition to lavish beaches that made this destination the object of indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and women in the sector.

Located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, it is surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and is currently characterized by its beautiful landscapes and the practice of ecotourism.

You may also be interested in the traditions and customs of Baja California Sur.

History of the State of Baja California Sur

The history of Baja California Sur dates back more than fourteen thousand years ago, when the Baja California Peninsula was inhabited by nomadic groups, towards the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

For the purposes of this article, the history of Baja California Sur will be studied in four parts, which are detailed below:

Prehispanic era

The first inhabitants of Baja California Sur were nomadic groups that based their diet on primitive subsistence activities. In pre-Columbian times, three very well differentiated groups were distinguished:

- The Pericúes: they lived in the southern part of the peninsula. They had their own language, Pericú, and they based their diet on hunting and gathering.

- The Guaycura s: they lived in the middle section of the peninsula. It was a rudimentary and somewhat crude society, and there are indications that its cultural extinction took place during the 19th century.

- The Cochimíes: they lived towards the northern part of the peninsula. They spoke the Cochimí Laimón language and were unaware of agriculture or livestock, so they only lived off gathering and fishing.

Spanish Explorations

At the beginning of 1534, the Spanish navigator Fortún Jiménez Bertandoña landed on the ground of the Baja California peninsula, specifically in the port of La Paz. Fortún was the first Spaniard to touch southern Californian soil.

On May 3, 1535, the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés arrived in Baja California Sur and baptized the port of La Paz as “Puerto y Valle de la Santa Cruz”.

Cortés arrived on the island with three ships, and more than 110 peons and 40 trained horsemen. However, shortly after he decided to leave for the port of Acapulco, due to strong attacks with the natives.

Missionary Period

The territory remained in constant rebellion between the settlers and the natives, until in 1697 the priest Juan María de Salvatierra introduced the project of religious indoctrination of the indigenous people, through the missions.

Baja California Sur's first mission was the Nuestra Señora de Loreto mission. Since then, 18 Jesuit missions have been founded throughout Baja California Sur.

During the first semester of 1768, the Jesuits were expelled from the peninsula and in their place were Franciscan missionaries, consolidating the colonization project in Baja California Sur.

Contemporary age

In 1887 the Baja California peninsula was divided into two federal districts: north and south respectively.

Then, in 1931, both sections were designated as the Northern and Southern Federal Territories of Baja California.

Later, in 1974, the Senate ruled that the Southern Territory of the Baja California Peninsula would be, from then on, a free and sovereign state, with capital in the city of La Paz.

References

1. Baja California Sur (sf). Recovered from: siglo.inafed.gob.mx
2. Baja California Sur (1998). London England. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Recovered from: britannica.com
3. Baja California Sur: History (nd). Recovered from: visitbajasur.travel
4. History of Baja California Sur (nd). Government of the State of Baja California Sur. La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Recovered from: bcs.gob.mx
5. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Baja California Sur. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org