Zoque people facts for kids
The Zoque are an indigenous group from Mexico. They speak their own unique language, also called Zoque. In 2000, there were about 41,609 Zoque people.
Most Zoque people live in the northern part of the Chiapas state. You can find them in towns like Amatán, Copainalá, Chapultenango, and Ocozocoautla. Some also live in the northern Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca. They are related to the Mixe group.
Contents
A Look Back at Zoque History
Ancient Times
Long ago, before the Spanish arrived, the Zoque people lived across Chiapas, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and parts of Tabasco state. Many historians believe they are descendants of the ancient Olmec civilization.
The Zoque had good relationships with the Mexica people. This helped their culture and economy grow in Chiapas. However, in 1494, the Aztecs invaded and defeated the Zoque. The Aztec ruler Ahuizotl forced the Zoque to pay tribute, which means they had to give goods or money to the Aztecs.
Later History
The Spanish arrived in Zoque lands in 1523, led by Luis Marin. The Spanish divided the Zoque people among themselves. The Zoque were forced to work hard and pay high tributes. Many Zoque people died from diseases, harsh work, and terrible living conditions. Their population greatly decreased.
Things did not get much better for the Zoque after Mexico became independent. They continued to be exploited by mestizos (people of mixed European and indigenous heritage) and criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the Americas). In 1922, their living conditions improved a little when they were given ejidos, which are common lands for farming.
Zoque Culture Today
Traditional Arts and Homes
The Zoque people are known for their black pottery with white rims. This pottery is a special part of their culture.
Traditional Zoque clothing is mostly worn by women, especially for special events. Some older men in distant communities still wear simple white cotton shirts. Women usually wear white blouses with short sleeves and colorful embroidery around the neck. They also wear long poplin skirts in different colors. Nowadays, many women wear knee-length dresses in bright colors with white lace.
Zoque houses are usually rectangular with one or two rooms. In the past, walls were made of adobe (mud bricks), painted white inside and out. Floors were made of earth, and roofs had four sloping sides covered with tiles or thatch. Today, houses are often built with concrete blocks, cement floors, and corrugated iron roofs. The kitchen is often a separate building from the main house.
Daily Life and Work
Like many other groups, agriculture is the main way the Zoque earn a living. The crops they grow depend on the land. They mostly grow maize (corn), beans, chiles, and squash. For selling, they grow coffee, cocoa, peppers, bananas, mamey, sweetsop, and guava. The soil is not always good, so they do not always get a lot of crops. They also raise small numbers of pigs and chickens for food.
Many Zoque people also work in cities, often in the construction industry.
See also
- Chimalapas territory conflict
- Indigenous people of Oaxaca
In Spanish: Zoque (etnia) para niños
