Cuilapan de Guerrero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cuilapan
Cuilapam
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Town and municipality
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| Cuilapan de Guerrero | |
Basilica of Cuilapan
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 Cuilapan
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Oaxaca |
| Founded | 1500–500 BCE |
| Elevation
(of seat)
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1,560 m (5,120 ft) |
| Population
(2005) Municipality
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| • Municipality | 15,041 |
| • Seat | 11,094 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| Postal code (of seat) |
71240
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Cuilapan de Guerrero is a town and municipality in southern Mexico. It is located in the central valley region of Oaxaca. The town is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Oaxaca City. It sits in the Centro District, part of the Central Valleys region.
Cuilapan, once called Sahayuca, has been a settled place since at least 500 BCE. It grew into a city-state. Later, it became part of the powerful Monte Albán empire. After Monte Albán declined around 600-900 CE, Cuilapan became an independent city-state again. When the Spanish arrived, Cuilapan was a large, important city. It had over 40,000 people.
Because it was so important, a big monastery was built there in the 1550s. This monastery was for the Dominican friars. They wanted to teach Christianity to the local Mixtec and Zapotec people. However, the native population decreased in the 1500s and early 1600s. The grand monastery also fell into disrepair later on. Today, Cuilapan is a quiet town. It has fewer people and less fame than it once did. The ruins of the monastery are now a national monument. The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) takes care of them.
Contents
History of Cuilapan
Ancient Settlements and Early Growth
People have lived in the Cuilapan area since 1500 BCE. A permanent village was set up by 500 BCE. These early people learned to weave, make pottery, and work with stone. They built lasting houses, special ceremonial buildings, and tombs. Their society grew and became more organized. Eventually, they even developed a simple writing system.
Cuilapan was an independent city-state for a time. Then, the powerful city of Monte Albán rose. Monte Albán was built in a strong, defensible spot. Cuilapan became one of its smaller, satellite cities.
Independence and Mixtec Influence
Between 600 and 900 CE, Monte Albán lost its power. This allowed Cuilapan and other cities to become independent again. Digs from this time show Cuilapan became more important. But it never became as powerful as Monte Albán once was. During this period, Cuilapan was known as a Zapotec city-state. Later, in the post-classic period, Mixtec people took over this and other Zapotec cities.
Spanish Arrival and Changes
When the Spanish arrived, Cuilapan was a large, diverse city. It had about 43,000 people. It was a major center for politics, economy, and culture. The Mixtec and Zapotec people were still fighting for control. The Aztecs also had a presence in the area. They collected taxes from Cuilapan. These taxes included corn, beans, clothing, gold, and cochineal (a red dye).
Cuilapan controlled several smaller settlements. These included places like Camotlán and Etla. The Aztecs mostly wanted tribute. They left the Mixtec culture and politics largely untouched.
The Spanish found a strong community. It had well-organized political, economic, and social systems. The Mixtecs were in charge. Society was split into a ruling class called caciques and commoners called macehuales. This system mostly stayed the same after the Spanish arrived. The ruling class kept many of their special rights. They just had to become Christians and be loyal to the Spanish king.
The original Mixtec town was at the base of a hill. But the modern town was started in 1551. Fray Domingo de Oguinaga and Zapotec people founded it. This happened when the monastery of Saint James was built.
The Monastery and Its Decline
The monastery became a key place for teaching Christianity. This was in the early colonial period. It was never fully finished. The Dominicans quickly baptized almost everyone. But this wasn't enough to make people truly accept the new faith. So, the large monastery was started in the 1550s. It had a big open chapel and detailed murals. These were meant to teach Christian ideas. They were changed to fit Mixtec and Zapotec beliefs. The monastery also caused the town's center to move. It shifted from the old Mixtec settlement to the area around the monastery.
Cuilapan was part of a dispute between Hernán Cortés and the city of Antequera. Cortés had a lot of power over Cuilapan. He also controlled sixteen other towns. The people of Antequera were worried about his power. The fight lasted from the 1520s to the 1530s. Eventually, Cortés's power was limited to four towns in 1533. Cuilapan was one of these. This made Cuilapan an important Spanish administrative center.
Cuilapan began to decline in the 1500s. Its population fell from 43,000 in the 1520s to 7,000 by 1600. Building the huge basilica and monastery stopped by the 1570s. It was never completed. The Dominican friars had to give the complex to other clergy in the mid-1700s. From then on, the monastery lost its wealth and importance. Church leaders did not maintain it. It fell apart until it was no longer used for religious purposes in the 1800s.
Important Events
The complex has been used for different things since then. It was even a school. But it is most famous as the prison and execution site of Vicente Guerrero in 1831. Guerrero was an important leader in Mexico's fight for independence.
Pope John Paul II visited the town in 1979.
What's in a Name?
The original Mixtec name for the city was Sahayuca. This means "at the foot of the mountain." Later, it was called Cuilapam Quayogol and Ampa-Valle. This happened when the Aztecs became more influential. The name is spelled two ways: "Cuilapam" and "Cuilapan." This name comes from the Nahuatl language. Its meaning is debated. It might mean "the place behind" or "dirty place." It could also mean "painted river" or "valley of the cocoyles." Cocoyles are a type of small coconut tree. The two spellings come from different Nahuatl endings. Both spellings are correct and can be seen on signs.
The Town of Cuilapan Today
Today, Cuilapan is mainly a Mixtec town. It has just over 11,000 people. The public buildings are brightly colored. There is a shady central plaza. It is a very quiet town. You will only see a few people on the streets. It is not like the busy city it once was. It has only a small part of its past population and fame.
Much of the town's life still revolves around religion. Saints' days and other events are celebrated. These include folk dances, church services, and parades. There are also fireworks and rodeos. Bands play traditional music like chilenas and sones. The biggest celebration is the feast of the Apostle James. It happens from January 24 to 27. On the 25th, a midday Mass ends with the famous Danza de la Pluma. In the evening, there is a dance event called a "jaripeo." More traditional dances happen in the main square with live music. These events repeat on the 26th. The 27th ends with a more modern dance event.
Cuilapam is where the Danza de la Pluma began. The town is known for making the fancy headdresses worn by the dancers. This dance is also performed at the yearly Guelaguetza event in Oaxaca City in July.
During festivals and in the markets, you can find many local dishes. These include different types of moles (sauces). There is also tasajo (dried beef) and tlayudas (large crispy tortillas). You can find tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Cegueza is another dish, made from ground corn and baked with barbacoa. Drinks include atole with chocolate, hot chocolate, and tejate. Tejate is a drink made with mamey seeds, corn, cocoa, and a special flower. You can also find horchata and hibiscus tea.
The Ex-Monastery of Santiago Apóstol
The old monastery still defines the town. It is the main attraction for visitors. This fortress-like building is easy to see from the highway. It is visited by both Mexican and international tourists. The complex is on a small hill. This gives it a great view of the valley. It is one of the most grand colonial buildings in Oaxaca. But it is often overlooked compared to churches near Mexico City.
The monastery is built from green stone and river rocks. It is a quiet place where footsteps echo. Its amazing features include the tall basilica and a fancy baptismal font. There is also a Gothic-style cloister and murals. These are considered national treasures. The monastery's decorations, especially its murals, are very important. They show how local Mixtec and Zapotec ideas were mixed with Christian ones. This helped the friars teach Christianity to the local people.
The church part of the monastery is still used for worship. But the roofless basilica and cloister are managed by INAH. INAH is Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History. They use many rooms on the second floor of the cloister for restoration work. They also run a small museum there. It displays important religious items from the 1500s.
The Municipality of Cuilapan
The town of Cuilapan is the main governing center for over thirty-five other communities. The largest of these include Cruz Blanca and Carrizal. The municipality had a population of 15,041 people in 2005. Almost 75% of these people live in the main town. Most of the people are ethnically Zapotec. The Mixtec people are the second largest group. Even though they are fewer in number, Mixtec traditions are very strong. This is because they had political power starting in the 1200s.
The municipality covers an area of 49.75 square kilometers (about 19 square miles). It shares borders with other municipalities like San Pedro Ixtlahuaca and Villa de Zaachila.
The valley is surrounded by thick forests in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. The land is steep and rocky. The main water source is a branch of the Atoyac River. The climate is mild and mostly dry. Most of the rain falls in summer and fall. Wildlife includes small animals like rodents and reptiles. Some larger animals, like the armadillo, are in danger of disappearing. The soil in the area can easily be washed away by rain.
About 60% of the people work in farming. Their main crops are corn, beans, and alfalfa. About 30% raise animals like pigs, cattle, goats, horses, and chickens. Around 10% travel to Oaxaca City for work. Some people also work as guides at the nearby Monte Albán site.
Images for kids
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Monument where Vicente Guerrero was executed
See also
In Spanish: Cuilápam de Guerrero para niños
