The history of Guanajuato begins with the civilization of the Chupícuaros, who developed in the Bajío area, where they practiced agriculture and architecture.
However, between the 10th and 11th centuries the Chupícuaras cities were hit by drought, which caused the disappearance of this civilization.
From the eleventh century the state was occupied by various aboriginal groups, both nomadic and sedentary.
Unlike the chupícuaros, most of these groups were not farmers and were not dedicated to architecture.
With the arrival of the Spanish, between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the dynamics of the aboriginal societies of Guanajuato changed. The discovery of gold and silver deposits led the Spanish to create settlements in this territory.
In Guanajuato the aboriginal resistance lasted much longer than in other states of Mexico. It was not until 1590 that relations between the Spanish and the aborigines were pacified.
The oppression of the Spanish crown caused discontent among the Mexicans, who rose in rebellion.
On July 8, 1821, Guanajuato was declared an independent state from the Spanish government.
Currently Guanajuato is of great importance for Mexico due to the fact that it is in the center of the country. In addition, it is one of the ten states that contribute the most to the gross domestic product of Mexico.
You may also be interested in the traditions of Guanajuato or its culture.
Prehispanic period
The chupícuaros were the first civilization known to occupy the territory of Guanajuato. This civilization settled in the Bajío area and developed between 800 BC. C. and 300 d. C.
It is believed that the Chupícuaros were related to the Toltecs, the civilization that created the Atlanteans of Tula. Therefore, when Toltec society disappeared, the Chupícuara communities also began to disappear.
In addition to this, between the 10th and 11th centuries the Chupícuaras cities experienced a severe period of droughts, with which the last inhabitants left the place.
From the 11th century until the end of the 15th century, the territory of Guanajuato was occupied by various nomadic, semi-nomadic and sedentary groups. Among these, the Chichimecas stood out.
Most of these civilizations lived off war; This means that they attacked other peoples to obtain the necessary resources to survive. Very few practiced agriculture.
Unlike the other states of Mexico, the territory of Guanajuato was not controlled by the Aztecs or the Purépechas. It remained independent until the arrival of the Spanish.
Conquest of Guanajuato
When the Spanish arrived, very few of them settled in the territory of Guanajuato. This was due to the fact that these areas were very arid.
However, the first expeditions that were carried out in the state demonstrated the existence of gold and silver deposits.
For this reason, between 1520 and 1530 the Spanish began to occupy the territory of Guanajuato quickly.
When being invaded, the natives of the state withdrew towards the less accessible areas (especially the mountains) in order to organize a resistance against the Spanish.
On several occasions, indigenous groups attacked both the colonizers' facilities and the workers who were heading towards the mines.
The resistance of the Chichimecas was one of the most tenacious in the history of Mexico. However, it ended in the year 1590.
Colonial period
At the end of the 16th century, the Spanish occupied most of the productive territory of Guanajuato. The lack of resources made the indigenous people impoverished.
For this reason, the Chichimeca chiefs negotiated peace with the Spanish, in order to establish a truce between the two sides.
Finally, in 1590, relations between the Spanish and the aborigines were pacified. In honor of this victory, the Villa de San Luis de la Paz was founded.
Little by little the Catholic religion was introduced through the missions. The Franciscans and the Augustinians were able to modify the opinion that the Chichimecas had of the Spanish.
Thus, many aborigines began to practice Catholicism, leaving the mountains and moving to the settlements of the Spanish.
However, the conditions of the indigenous people did not improve. Many were forced to work for measly or nonexistent pay. Some women were raped; As a consequence of this, the mestizos were born.
On the other hand, the main economic activities developed in Guanajuato during the Colony were mining and agriculture.
Towns were developed around the mines and buildings of a civil and religious nature were built.
El Bajío, the most fertile area of the state, became one of the main agricultural centers of the New Spain colonies.
The economic opportunities and prosperity of Guanajuato caused the population to grow dramatically.
Despite this, most of the population lived in poverty and were oppressed by the Spanish. For this reason, the colonies rebelled against Spanish rule.
For Guanajuato, independence came on July 8, 1821. Three years later it would be declared a state of Mexico.
Contemporary period
Guanajuato currently stands out for its economic importance. In fact, it is among the 10 states of Mexico that contribute the most to the nation's gross domestic product.
El Bajío continues to be the agricultural center, not only of the state but of the country. The main agricultural products are wheat, corn, sorghum, alfalfa, strawberries and goats.
In addition, many of the state's regions are areas of industrial development, such as the Sierra Central and the Bajío. 30% of the country's industrial production is generated in Guanajuato.
The most important industries are the automobile, pharmaceutical, food, textile and footwear industries.
Besides being an economic center, Guanajuato is a cultural center. Two of the cities of the state were declared cultural heritage by UNESCO: San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato.
Likewise, the state has been the scene for 45 years of the International Cervantino Festival, in which various cultural activities take place: recitals, book fairs, lectures and conferences with artists, operas, art exhibitions, among others.
References
- Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Guanajuato City. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Guanajuato - Mexico. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from britannica.com
- Guanajuato - Mexico. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from history.com
- Guanajuato - Mexico. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from ruelsa.com
- Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from whc.unesco.org
- History of Guanajuato. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from explorandomexico.com
- History of Mexico - The State of Guanajuato. Retrieved on November 9, 2017, from houstonculture.org