Oaxaca

Quick Facts: Who was Oaxaca?

Subject:

Oaxaca

Known for:

A culturally rich state in Southern Mexico, known for its indigenous heritage and biodiversity.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into 570 municipalities, of which 418 (almost three quarters) are governed by the system of usos y costumbres (customs and traditions) with recognized local forms of self-governance. Its capital city is Oaxaca de Juárez. Oaxaca is in Southern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Guerrero to the west, Puebla to the northwest, Veracruz to the north, and Chiapas to the east.

Career & Major Achievements

To the south, Oaxaca has a significant coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The state is best known for its Indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but 16 are officially recognized. These cultures have survived better than most others in Mexico due to the state's rugged and isolating terrain. Most live in the Central Valleys region, which is also an economically important area for tourism, with people attracted for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, and Mitla, and its various native cultures and crafts.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Another important tourist area is the coast, which has the major resort of Huatulco and sandy beaches of Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel, Zipolite, Bahia de Tembo, and Mazunte. Oaxaca is also one of Mexico's most biologically diverse states, ranking in the top three, along with Chiapas and Veracruz, for numbers of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. The name of the state comes from the name of its capital city, Oaxaca. This name comes from the Nahuatl word Huaxyacac, which refers to a tree called a guaje in Spanish (Leucaena leucocephala) found around the capital city. The name was originally applied to the Valley of Oaxaca by Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs and passed on to the Spanish during the conquest of the Oaxaca region.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Oaxaca

True or False: “The name 'Oaxaca' originates from the Nahuatl word Huaxyacac, which refers to a tree called guaje.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This etymology is documented as the original source of the state's name, passed down from Aztec speakers.

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