Spanish colonization Oaxaca

cathedral of our lady of assumption motherchurch of oaxacan archdiocese

very after fall of tenochtitlan (mexico city), spaniards arrived in oaxaca. moctezuma ii had informed hernando cortes area had gold. in addition, when zapotec leaders heard spanish conquest of aztec empire, sent offer of alliance. several captains , representatives sent area explore area, looking gold, , routes pacific establish trade routes asian spice markets. prominent of cortés captains arrive here gonzalo de sandoval, francisco de orozco , pedro de alvarado. overcame main aztec military stronghold 4 months after fall of tenochtitlan. reports area prompted cortés seek title of marquis of valley of oaxaca spanish crown.

the valley zapotecs, mixtecs of upper mixteca, mazatecas , cuicatecas, part, choose not fight newcomers, instead negotiating keep of old hierarchy ultimate authority spanish. resistance new order sporadic , confined pacific coastal plain, zapotec sierra, mixea region , isthmus of tehuantepec. mixes put resistance intrusions on lands. not resisted during first decade or of spanish occupation, other groups, through rest of 16th century. last major mixe rebellion came in 1570, when burned , looted zapotec communities , threatened destroy spanish presidio of villa alta. however, rebellion put down spanish, in alliance 2,000 mixtecs , aztecs. point, mixe retreated far mountains isolate themselves, found today.

the first priest in territory juan diaz, accompanied francisco de orozco , build first church in city of oaxaca. followed bartolome de olmade , others began superficial conversion of number of indigenous, including baptism of zapotec leader cosijoeza. in 1528, dominicans settled in city of oaxaca, forming bishopric of oaxaca in 1535, , began spread out there, reaching tehuantepec , coast. other orders followed such jesuits in 1596, mercedarians in 1601, , others in 17th , 18th centuries.

spanish conquest , subsequent colonization had devastating effect on native population, due european diseases , forced labor. in areas native population or disappeared. has been estimated native population of region declined 1.5 million in 1520 150,000 in 1650. eventually, prompt spanish import african slaves regions of state, in costa chica. poor treatment of indigenous , african populations continue though colonial period. initially, spanish did not change native power structures , allowed nobles keep privileges long loyal spanish crown. however, indigenous lumped category spanish halted warfare among city-states , creating official category of indio (indian).

settlers arriving spain brought them domestic animals had never been seen in oaxaca: horses, cows, goats, sheep, chickens, mules , oxen. new crops such sugar cane, vanilla , tobacco introduced. however, landholding still remained in indigenous hands, in spite of fact 9% of oaxaca s terrain arable. spanish official , merchants try take indigenous privileges due social status, resisted. while of violent, dominant response resort administrative-judicial system or yield. violence reserved worst of situations. 1 native product reach economic importance during colonial period cochineal insect, used making of dyes textiles. product exported europe, in 17th , 18th centuries. use of insect faded in 19th century discovery of cheaper dyes.

for of colonial period, state (then intendencia or province) relatively isolated few roads , other forms of communication. politics , social issues strictly on local level. despite spanish domination, indigenous peoples of oaxaca have maintained of culture , identity, more other places in mexico. part of due geography of land, making many communities isolated.