Zacualpa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zacualpa Sacualpa
Municipality
Main church
Zacualpa Location in Guatemala
Country	Guatemala
Department	El Quiché
Municipality	Zacualpa
Government
• Type	Municipal
Area
• Municipality	137 km2 (53 sq mi)
Elevation	1,486 m (4,875 ft)
Population  (Census 2018)
• Municipality	32,750
• Density	239.1/km2 (619.1/sq mi)
• Urban	5,603
• Ethnicities	K'iche' Ladino
• Religions	Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism Maya
Climate	Cwb

Zacualpa (Spanish pronunciation: [saˈkwalpa]) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is a place with a rich history, especially linked to the ancient Maya civilization.

What Does the Name Zacualpa Mean?

The name Zacualpa has an interesting origin. Many place names in Guatemala come from the Nahuatl language. This was the language of Mexican allies who helped the Spanish conquerors.

However, the word Sac in the Maya language means "white." A local story says the name comes from the white soil found near the Polochic River. You might still see the name spelled as Sacualpa sometimes.

A Look at Zacualpa's History

Zacualpa has a long and fascinating history, stretching back to ancient Maya times.

Ancient Maya City: Zacualpa's Early Days

Zacualpa started as an important Maya city in the Guatemalan highlands. An American archaeologist named Robert Wauchope studied the site. He excavated it in the 1930s and 1940s.

His research showed that Zacualpa existed very early, around 317 to 633 AD. It was active at the same time as other powerful Maya cities during the Middle Classic period (550-700 AD).

How Zacualpa Survived the Maya Collapse

Zacualpa managed to survive the events that led to the classic Maya collapse. This was a time when many great Maya cities declined. Later, in the Postclassic period, Zacualpa became an early capital for the Chajoma people. The Chajoma were a Maya group who spoke the Kaqchikel language. Their history is recorded in a book called the Annals of the Cakchiquels.

At one point, the Chajoma kingdom was one of the three main powers in the highlands. The other two were the K'iche of Q'umarkaj and the Kaqchikel of Iximche.

Changes and Conquests in the 1400s

In the early 1400s, the city of Iximche began to expand its power. This threatened the Chajoma people. The Kaqchikel started taking over Chajoma towns. To protect themselves, the Chajoma moved their capital. They first went to Ochal, then to Jilotepeque Viejo around 1450. However, the Kaqchikels still conquered them soon after. Meanwhile, the smaller town of Zacualpa was taken over by Q'umarkaj around 1425.

Spanish Colonial Period: Monasteries and Doctrines

After the Spanish arrived, they focused on teaching the native people the Catholic faith. New settlements created by missionaries were called "Indian doctrines."

Dominican Order coat of arms.

What Were Indian Doctrines?

Originally, friars (religious brothers) had a simple goal. They would teach Catholicism to the native people. Then, these settlements were supposed to become regular church parishes, like those in Spain. The friars were also meant to teach Spanish and Catholicism. Once the native people were ready, they would live in parishes and pay taxes to the church.

However, this plan did not work out. The Spanish crown lost control of the religious orders. Missionaries only answered to their own order's leaders, not to the Spanish government or bishops. Once a doctrine was set up, the friars protected their own interests. This meant the doctrines became Indian towns that stayed mostly the same throughout the Spanish colonial period.

How Doctrines Were Organized

Friars could set up communities wherever they wanted, as long as the goal was to eventually make them secular parishes. But in reality, these doctrines grew very large and were never handed over. They formed around the friars' monasteries. From there, friars would visit smaller settlements called "annexes" or "visit towns."

Doctrines had three main features:

• They were independent from outside control (both church and government).
• A group of friars ran them.
• They had many smaller "annexes" or "visit towns."

Having a group of friars in charge helped make sure the community continued smoothly, even if one friar passed away.

Zacualpa's Role in the Dominican Order

In 1638, the Dominican Order divided their large doctrines. These doctrines brought them a lot of money. Zacualpa's doctrine was given to the Sacapulas Convent. Later, in 1754, the Dominican Order had to give all their doctrines and convents to the regular church leaders. This was part of the Bourbon reforms, which were changes made by the Spanish crown.

Zacualpa in the 21st Century

In 2015, the elected mayor of Zacualpa, Sabino Ervin Calachij Gutiérrez, and his father, former mayor Ernesto Calachij Riz, faced legal issues. They were sent to prison along with three other people.

What is Zacualpa's Climate Like?

Zacualpa has a subtropical highland climate. This type of climate is also known as Cwb in the Köppen climate classification. It means the area has mild temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

Where is Zacualpa Located?

Zacualpa is surrounded by other municipalities within the Quiché Department.

		San Andrés Sajcabajá y Concepción	Concepción
	Chiché		Joyabaj
		Zacualpa
	Joyabaj	Joyabaj	Joyabaj

Images for kids

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  Dominican Order convents during the Spanish colony en Guatemala and the approximate area of their surrounding doctrines

See also

In Spanish: Zacualpa para niños