Tactic, Guatemala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tactic
Municipality
Tactic
Motto(s):  "Trabajamos por el desarrollo del pueblo" (We work for people development)
Tactic Location in Guatemala
Country	Guatemala
Department	Alta Verapaz
Order of Preachers Doctrine	1545
Incorporated	1877
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Body	Tactic municipal council
Area
• Total	39 sq mi (102 km2)
Elevation	4,791 ft (1,465 m)
Population
• Total	38,052
• Density	966/sq mi (373.1/km2)
Demonym(s)	Tactiqueño/Tactiqueña
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central America)
Climate	Cfb
Website	Tactic municipality

Tactic is a town and a special area called a municipality in Guatemala. It's located in the Alta Verapaz region. Tactic sits high up, about 1,465 meters (or 4,791 feet) above sea level.

In 2018, the whole municipality had about 38,052 people. The town of Tactic itself had 15,213 residents. The main languages spoken here are Spanish, Poqomchiʼ, and Q'eqchi'.

History of Tactic

Early Times in Tactic

Before the Europeans arrived, the Tactic area had important ceremonial places. These centers were found in spots like Chiáchan, Guaxpac, and Chiji. There was also a special hill called Chi-ixim. Leaders and priests would gather there to celebrate during each new moon. Chicán was another very important ceremonial center.

The Order of Preachers in Vera Paz

Fray Bartolomé de las Casas helped bring peace to the Vera Paz region starting in 1542.

Around the 1530s, Spanish explorers tried to conquer the native people in this area, but they found it very difficult. The region was known as the "War Zone."

Then, a group of priests called the Order of Preachers decided to try a different approach. One of them, Bartolomé de las Casas, believed in peaceful conversion instead of war. In 1536, he came to Guatemala.

Las Casas and other priests, like Rodrigo de Landa and Pedro Angulo, taught Christian songs to four native people. These songs explained the basic ideas of their faith. One of the priests, Luis de Cancer, visited the leader (called a cacique) of Sacapulas. He was able to baptize some of his people.

Later, Las Casas brought gifts to another cacique. This leader was so impressed that he decided to convert and became a preacher for his own people. He was baptized as "Don Juan." The natives allowed a small church to be built. Even though another cacique, Cobán, burned the church, "Don Juan" helped convince Cobán's people of the priests' good intentions.

In 1539, the Pope allowed a new church area (diocese) to be created. This area included Vera Paz. In 1540, the king of Spain agreed to protect the Vera Paz region and put it under the care of the Order of Preachers.

Las Casas and Angulo helped found towns like Rabinal. The city of Cobán became a main center for the new Christian teachings. Over time, native people started settling in towns like Tactic, following the Spanish way of organizing towns. The "War Zone" was officially renamed "Vera Paz," meaning "true peace," in 1547. Tactic celebrated its first baptisms on July 2, 1545.

Independence and German Settlers

On December 10, 1877, Tactic was moved from the Baja Verapaz region to Alta Verapaz by a special order from the president. Miguel Peláez became Tactic's first mayor in 1900.

Around 1890, a British explorer named Alfred Percival Maudslay visited Tactic. He described it as a small, windy village. It was a common stop for travelers going between Cobán and the port of Panzós. Panzós was an important port for shipping coffee to the Caribbean Sea.

At this time, many German families had settled in the Verapaz area. They received land from Guatemalan presidents. The Germans formed a strong community and had activities at their German Club in Cobán. Their main business was growing coffee. Even after Germany lost World War I and World War II, and the German settlers were asked to leave, their influence remained in Verapaz.

Places to Visit in Tactic

Tactic has some interesting places for visitors:

• The cold waters of Chamche.
• The Chi-ixim temple, where you can find the Black Christ.
• The Live Well.

Climate in Tactic

Tactic has a mild, temperate climate. This type of climate is known as Cfb in the Köppen climate classification system.

Where is Tactic Located?

		Cobán, municipality de Alta Verapaz Department
	Santa Cruz Verapaz, municipality de Alta Verapaz Department		Tamahú municipality de Alta Verapaz Department
		Tactic
		San Miguel Chicaj, municipality de Baja Verapaz

See also

In Spanish: Tactic para niños