Purépecha (also Pʼurhépecha [pʰuˈɽepet͡ʃa] , Purepecha : Phorhé or Phorhépecha ), often called Tarascan ( Spanish : Tarasco ), a term coined by Spanish settlers that can be seen as pejorative, is a language isolate or small language family that is spoken by some 140,000 Purépecha in the highlands of Michoacán , Mexico .
109-563: Michoacán , formally Michoacán de Ocampo ( Spanish pronunciation: [mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo] ; Purépecha : P'uɽempo ), officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo ' Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ' , is one of the 31 states which, together with Mexico City , comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city
218-554: A shootout in 2015 as well as a massacre and clashes in 2019 . The state is located in the center west of the Mexican Republic, on the extreme southwest of the central highlands. It borders the states of Mexico, Querétaro, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Colima, with a 217 km (135 mi) coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The state has a territory of 58,836.95 km (22,717.07 sq mi), making it
327-414: A breeding ground for sea turtles. Pur%C3%A9pecha language Purépecha was the main language of the pre-Columbian Tarascan State and became widespread in the region during its heyday in the late post-Classic period . The small town of Purepero got its name from the indigenous people who lived there. Even though it is spoken within the boundaries of Mesoamerica , Purépecha does not share many of
436-453: A cord and a rope, and the other subtle offices that do not require instruments or much art." The Tecuexe were known for their fierceness and cruelty towards their enemy. They were known to be so brave, it is said, that once, when the Mexica (Aztecs) came from Chicomostoc, Zacatecas to take control of Xolotl, (and course on to the lagoon where they found an eagle devouring a serpent) they attacked
545-675: A funeral complex that is usually included in the Shaft tomb tradition that spread throughout much of the west of Mesoamerica on the territory of the current states of Jalisco , Colima , Nayarit and Michoacán . Burials at El Opeño, as in all where shaft burial materials have been found, are distinguished by their exceptional quality within the Mesoamerica framework. No other Mesoamerican people built this type of tradition of funerary monuments before their flourishing or after their decline. These are vertical (or nearly vertical) tombs excavated in
654-619: A people dwelling in the same region of Michoacán they live in now as early as the 13th century. According to the Relación de Michoacán , the communities around Lake Pátzcuaro were gathered into the strong Purépecha State by the leader of the Uacúsecha group of Purépecha speakers, Tariácuri . Around 1300, he undertook the first conquests of other and installed his nephews Hiripan and Tangáxoan as lords of Ihuatzio and Tzintzuntzan respectively while he himself ruled from Pátzcuaro City . By
763-517: A western highland language, spoken by 135,000 speakers (2005) around Zamora , Los Reyes de Salgado , Paracho de Verduzco , and Pamatácuaro , all of which are in the vicinity of the volcano Parícutin . Recent migration has formed communities of speakers in the cities of Guadalajara , Tijuana and Mexico City and in the United States . The total population of speakers is rising (from 58,000 in 1960 to 96,000 in 1990 and 120,000 in 2000 ), but
872-534: Is Morelia (formerly called Valladolid). The city was named after José María Morelos , a native of the city and one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence . Michoacán is located in western Mexico, and has a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. It is bordered by the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west and northwest, Guanajuato to the north, Querétaro to
981-489: Is San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro , which was founded due to the destruction of its original namesake by the eruption of the Paricutín volcano. The pre-Hispanic sites of Tingambato and Taretan are in this zone as well, which were important Purépecha cities. The town of Paracho is well known throughout both Mexico and elsewhere in the world as a hub of lutherie . This is because the town's craftsmen are reputed to making
1090-410: Is double-marking in the typology of Johanna Nichols , as it marks grammatical relations on both the dependent phrases and phrasal heads. The language has both grammatical case and postpositions . The case system distinguishes nominative , accusative , genitive , comitative , instrumental , and locative cases, but there are also many nominal derivational affixes. Word order is flexible, and
1199-560: Is a chichimeca origin word which means "place of vegetables". Another meaning comes from Xucunan, "place of flowers and vegetables". Another version notes that Jacona (Xucunan) is a word from the Tecuexe , one of the Great Chichimeca civilizations, whose language is Uto-Aztecan languages. In relation to this site's inhabitants or their culture there is no clear information; available text mentions several cultures, among other
SECTION 10
#17327659715981308-481: Is an agglutinative language , but sound change has led to a certain degree of fusion. It is sometimes considered a polysynthetic language because of its complex morphology and frequent long words. Unlike most other languages that are considered polysynthetic, it has no noun compounding or incorporation . The language is exclusively suffixing and has a large number of suffixes (as many as 160 ) and clitics . The verb distinguishes 13 aspects and 6 modes. The language
1417-462: Is an important symbol in Purépecha culture. Numerous bird species can be found including water fowl such as ducks, storks and seabirds along the coast. Eagles , parrots, and hawks are found in the tropical and mountainous regions. Both owls and hummingbirds are important cultural symbols to the Purépecha. It is also one of three Mexican states where the tarantula species Brachypelma hamorii
1526-593: Is based on agriculture, ranching, fishing, mining, and the arts. The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Pátzcuaro –Tzintzuntzan–Quiroga area, which was the center of the Purépecha Empire ; as well as the location of the Tzintzuntzan yácata pyramids. The national and state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies ( Mariposas Monarca ) are located here. Michoacán
1635-535: Is fed by streams such as Manzanilla and Zinamba. These two lakes are considered to be the main tourist attraction of the state. Most of the state's rivers and streams are located in the south region of the state, with the Balsas River being the most important. The most important tributaries of this river include the Cutzamala, Carácuaro and Tepalcatepec rivers. Within this region is the coastal watershed, which
1744-471: Is found, the other two being Jalisco and Colima . Tiger sharks , thresher sharks , and porpoises can be found in coastal waters. Reptiles including crocodiles, sea turtles , iguanas , snakes, and caimans can be found in the waterways and along the coastal regions. Michoacán includes critical over-wintering habitat for most of the monarch butterflies from eastern North America. To the Purépechas,
1853-491: Is known for its Spanish colonial towns. In 1991, Morelia was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved colonial buildings, pink stone cathedral, historic center, and aqueduct. Michoacán has eight Pueblos Mágicos ; such as the towns of Tlalpujahua and Santa Clara del Cobre . Day of the Dead celebrations in some parts of Michoacán, such as the towns of Janitzio and Pátzcuaro , are often considered to be
1962-462: Is marked by appearance of many volcanoes, active, dormant, and extinct alike. This system is subdivided into regions such as the Sierra de Tancítaro, Sierra de Periban, Sierra de San Angel and others. The best-known volcano in this region is the Paricutín volcano. The state has a large number of lakes, waterfalls , lagoons , hot springs , and a natural system of waterways, including parts of two of
2071-495: Is named after Michoacán's largest port and oceanside city. Here the state stresses the kilometres of beaches and other natural areas in which to practice ecotourism and extreme sports. Beaches include Maruata, Faro de Bucerías, the Pichi Estuary, La Laguna de Mezcala, La Ticla and Nexpa, with the last two popular for surfing , with their regular two-three-meter waves. A number of these beaches are protected areas, due to being
2180-413: Is offered in communities which have twenty five or more qualified students. Less formal preschools are operated in smaller communities. As of 1996, there were 5,433 primary schools serving 705,694 students with 25,485 teachers. There is a failure rate from grade to grade of about 9.7% with just under five percent leaving school permanently before finishing primary studies. The most common reason for departure
2289-493: Is one of the oldest towns of Michoacán and one of the first settlements dominated by and tributary of the Purépecha kingdom . The current Jacona city (originally Xacona, derived from Xucunan) was founded in 1555 by Augustinian Friars, Jacona, placing it at about 16 kilometres from the old pre-Hispanic town which was called then "Pueblo Viejo" or "Jacona Vieja" Xacona was established in a chichimeca (tecuexe) region, bordering
SECTION 20
#17327659715982398-489: Is poverty. At the secondary level there are 174,354 students, which represent 22% of these eligible to attend. High school level studies are mostly geared to vocational studies and many attend via distance education. There are 24 public and private institutions of higher learning offering 49 different majors. Eight are technical colleges, four for teachers, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo,
2507-637: Is repeated in Lyle Campbell's authoritative classification. Joseph Greenberg assigned it to the Chibchan language family , but like the rest of his American classification, that proposal is rejected by specialists. There are a number of dialects, which SIL International divides into two languages, but Campbell (1997) considers Purépecha to be a single language. The government of Mexico recognizes 3 dialectal variants: Lacustrine (spoken in areas close to lake Patzcuaro ), Sierran or Meseta (spoken in
2616-599: Is the area between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the coastline. This area includes small rivers such as the Coahuayana, Aquila, Ostula, Motín del Oro, Coire, Cachán and Nexpa which flow directly into the Pacific. Much of the climate of the state is determined by altitude and other geographical features. Average temperatures vary from 13 °C (55 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F). Lower temperatures correspond with
2725-459: Is the city of Lázaro Cárdenas which contains 2,926 m (9,600 ft) of dock space. The dock is used mostly for the shipping of minerals and grains. There are two major international airports, Morelia International Airport and Uruapan International Airport . Smaller facilities exist in Zamora and Lázaro Cárdenas. The state has abundant hydroelectrical production due to dams on the Balsas River,
2834-579: Is the second-largest producer of coke and third-largest producer of iron, which are essential to the steel industry, in Mexico. While there remains significant metallic deposits, their mining only contributes 1.64% to the economy. Most industrial activity is concentrated in the central region of the state, near the capital, where a number of industrial parks are located, such as Ciudad Industrial Morelia. However. there are other areas with industry, such as Apatzingán, Zamora, Jiquilpan and Sahuayo , as well as in
2943-425: Is unmarked. The accusative case (also called the objective case ) is used to mark direct and sometimes indirect objects and is marked by the suffix -ni : Pedrú Pedrú Pedro pyásti pyá-s-ti buy- PFV - 3P tsúntsu ni tsúntsu- ni pot- ACC Pedrú pyásti tsúntsu ni Pedrú pyá-s-ti tsúntsu- ni El Ope%C3%B1o El Opeño is a Mesoamerican archaeological site located in
3052-669: The Apatzingán Valley , the Bajío area of Michoacán, the Zamora Valley and some others. Principal crops include corn, sorghum , avocados , strawberries , peaches, wheat, limes, sugar cane and mangos. While corn accounts for 43% of the crops harvested, Michoacán is the largest producer of avocados in Mexico and in the world. Forty three percent of farmland in the territory is dedicated to the raising of livestock, including cattle, domestic fowl, sheep, goats and pigs. In 2007,
3161-568: The Capacha culture and earlier than the Chupicuaro . El Opeño tombs, the oldest in Mesoamerica, have been dated to around 1600 BCE - a similar period as Olmec culture development. El Opeño discoveries became a milestone that questions the Olmec culture as the founders or precursors of all mesoamerican cultures. At the same time, the lack of validated information becomes evident, as well as
3270-597: The Chichimeca , a subgroup of the chichimecas, the Tecuexe , Purépecha and another contemporary culture, the Capacha culture. What is apparently clear, is that regardless of names assigned by scientists and scholars, the broad ancient Mexico region or Cem Anahuac, had many cultures and subcultures scattered in time and space, it is very likely that all had a common origin, the Nahuatl language and its derivations, and
3379-775: The Congress of the Union of Mexico approved the General Law of Linguistic Rights of the Indigenous Peoples in 2003, giving Purépecha and Mexico's other indigenous languages official status as "national languages." The official alphabet is the Pʼ;URHEPECHA JIMBO KARARAKUECHA (Purépecha Alphabet): The letters b, d, g occur in spelling only after m, n : mb, nd, ng , which reflects the pronunciation of p, t, k after nasal consonants. In all dialects of Purépecha,
Michoacán - Misplaced Pages Continue
3488-481: The Lázaro Cárdenas area. Major production areas are iron and steel (34.27%), bottling (10.43%) and paper products (8.36%). Most people in the state are employed in service and commerce, and this sector contributes 19.07% to the overall economy. Most sales are in foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco. The state contains more than 12,804 km (7,956 mi) of federal, state and local roads. Major highways in
3597-626: The Mexican War of Independence in the early 18th century. This war was foreshadowed by the 1809 conspiracy in Valladolid. One of the early and main protagonists of the war, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla , was educated as a priest in the state and began to disseminate Enlightenment ideas here. Soon after Hidalgo performed the Grito de Dolores in Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo ), Guanajuato, a number of people influenced by his thought took up arms against
3706-550: The Purépecha Empire , which rivaled the Aztec Empire at the time of Spanish encounter. After the Spanish conquest , the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period. The state and its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence . Today, the state is still home to a sizable population of Purépecha people as well as minor populations of Otomi and Nahua . The economy
3815-581: The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire , the Purépecha State was at first peacefully incorporated into the realm of New Spain , but with the killing of Cazonci Tangaxuán II by Nuño de Guzmán , the relation became one of Spanish dominance by force. Exceptions were the hospital communities of Vasco de Quiroga , such as Santa Fé de la Laguna , where Purépecha could live with a degree of protection from Spanish domination. Through Spanish friars,
3924-628: The Tepetate or tuff which is part of the subsoil of the region. Access to the underground burial chambers had different means; for example in Nayarit, it is common for tombs to have a very deep shaft, although those in El Opeño had ladders. In El Opeño twelve tombs were discovered, all of which show signs of architectural planning in the funerary complex. Also, the complex as a whole is organized into an overall plan. These tombs can be considered
4033-599: The stress accent is phonemic. As in Spanish orthography , a stressed syllable is indicated by the acute accent . Minimal pairs are formed: Usually, the second syllable of the word is stressed, but occasionally, it is the first. The phonemic inventory of the Tarécuato dialect is presented below. It differs from other dialects in having a velar nasal phoneme. The table of phonemes uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and also gives
4142-470: The "Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán on January 31, 1824. This state was initially divided into 4 departments and 22 portions (partidos) under the Ley Territorial of 1825, with the first constitution ratified in the same year. The name of the capital was changed from Valladolid to Morelia at the same time. In 1831, the state was reorganized into 61 municipals and 207 locales (tenencias). Due to
4251-590: The 15th century, the Purépecha state was at war with the Aztecs. Many Nahua peoples who had lived side by side with Purépecha-speakers were relocated outside of the Tarascan frontiers, and Otomi -speakers fleeing the Aztec expansion resettled on the border between the two polities. That created a fairly homogeneous area of Purépecha speakers, with no other languages spoken in the core area around Lake Pátzcuaro. During
4360-446: The Aztec delegations seeking military aid. He was succeeded by Tanganxoan II . The first Spaniard to the area was Cristóbal de Olid . The Spanish destruction of Tenochtitlan and their promise to allow him to remain ruler convinced Tanganxoan II to submit to Spanish rule. But, Nuño de Guzmán reneged on this agreement and killed Tanganxoan II in 1530, a crime for which he was tried and exiled to Spain where he would die in prison. During
4469-535: The Aztecs, having expanded their territory over much of what is now Michoacán and into part of Colima , Nayarit , Querétaro , Guanajuato , Guerrero and Jalisco . The Aztecs attempted to invade the Purépecha but were repelled. Because of this attack, the Purépecha later denied the Aztecs aid in their defense of Tenochtitlan against the Spanish and the Tlaxcala. The Purépechas are noted by historians to be one of
Michoacán - Misplaced Pages Continue
4578-612: The Ciudad de Mechuacán. For his efforts, Quiroga is still referred to in the Patzcuaro area as "Tata (grandfather) Vasco". The diocese of Michoacán was established in 1536 by Pope Paul III , and its boundaries coincide with the old Purépecha kingdom . Its first bishop was Vasco de Quiroga. The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo began as the Colegio de San Nicolas Obispo, founded by Vasco de Quiroga in Patzcuaro in 1540. It
4687-568: The Day of the Dead celebrations), ice cream, churros , and ate, a kind of Mexican jelly made of many typical fruits. The state ministry of tourism has divided the state into regions, mostly based on the major cities of Morelia, Uruapan, Lázaro Cárdenas, Patzcuaro, Zamora and Zitácuaro. The state contains a large number of potential attractions, most of which are classified as suitable for ecotourism. However, only 6.2% of these sites are visited by international tourists. Most visitors to sites are from within
4796-730: The French in places like Zitácuaro , where much of the city was burned. One of the first victories against the French during the Intervention occurred in Zamora. In 1907, Michoacán's boundaries changed again with the addition of the communities of Pungarabato and Zirandaro added from Guerrero state to make the Balsas River a natural border. The Mexican Revolution came to Michoacán in 1911, when those loyal to Francisco I. Madero proclaimed Santa Clara del Cobre as their territory, then went on to take towns around Lake Patzcuaro under
4905-610: The Grande de Morelia and Queréndaro. The Central region is represented by lakes Pátzcuaro and Zirahuén . Lake Pátzcuaro has a surface area of 1,525 km. This lake is fed by a number of surface and subterranean water flows with the principal rivers leading here including the San Gregorio and Chapultepec. This lake has five islands within it called Janitzio , Yunuén, La Pacanda, Tecuén, Jarácuaro, Urandén and Carián. Lake Zirahuén has an area of 615 km (237 sq mi) and
5014-627: The Highlands of northwestern Michoacan) and Cañada(spoken in the Cañada de los Once Pueblos region). The language is spoken mostly in rural communities in the highlands of Michoacán. The former center of the Tarascan State was around Lake Pátzcuaro and remains an important center of the Purépecha community. Ethnologue counts Purépecha as two languages: a central language, spoken by approximately 40,000 people (2005) around Pátzcuaro, and
5123-718: The Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educación and ten private institutions. The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo is located in Morelia. Its historical predecessor was founded in 1540, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the Americas. Carnitas are originally from Michoacán. Other traditional foods include cotija cheese , guacamole , morisqueta , tamales , pozole , enchiladas , mole sauce , and various sweets such as pan de muerto and chocolate champurrado (during
5232-953: The Lerma River and the Tepalcatepec River. One notable actress from Santa Elena , Michoacán is Elpidia Carrillo . She is best known for starring in the 1987 science fiction horror film Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger . As of 1995, the state had eight television stations, with seven out of operation. There is a system of educational television with 528 broadcast antennas. Newspapers and news sites of Michoacán de Ocampo include: La Opinión de Apatzingán , a. m. de La Piedad , Diario ABC de Michoacán , El Diario Grande de Michoacán Provincia , El Sol de Morelia , El Sol de Zamora , Frecuencia Informativa Escrita , La Jornada Michoacán , La Opinión de Michoacán , La Voz de Michoacán. The state provides public education from preschool level to high school. "Formal preschool"
5341-576: The Liberty of the Mexican America) and "Sentimentos de la Nacion", both of which would shape constitutions and governments in the years to come. The first Mexican Supreme Court was also founded here. The Mexican War of Independence was culminated by the army of Agustín de Iturbide , also a Michoacán native, who took Morelia in May 1821. After the war ended in 1821, the territory of Michoacán became
5450-569: The Primera Casa de Altos Estudios en América, was founded by Alonso de la Veracruz in Tiripetío . Michoacán was made a separate province from "Mexico" in 1602. By the mid-17th century, the indigenous population had declined by half. In 1776, the territory of Michoacán was reduced to the area in which the modern states of Michoacán and Colima are now. Soon after, Colima split to join with the province of Guadalajara, leaving Michoacán roughly with
5559-448: The Purépecha kingdom. This explains why other neighboring places have Purépecha names. The main hill facing Jacona, for example, is called Curutarán. Curutarán is a Purépecha language word, formed by the words: "ku", put together; "rhu", projection, tip; "tarha" play ball; and "an" gods. It means: "Point where the gods come together to play ball". This ball game was not a common game, but the "celestial ball game". El Opeño consists of
SECTION 50
#17327659715985668-507: The Purépecha learned to write in the Latin script , and Purépecha became a literary language in the early colonial period. There is a body of written sources in Purépecha from the period, including several dictionaries, confessionaries, and land titles. Among the most important colonial works are the grammar (1558) and dictionary (1559) of Fray Maturino Gilberti , and the grammar and dictionary (1574) by Juan Baptista de Lagunas From ca. 1700,
5777-479: The Purépechan state in the 13th century, when these people started their own dominion at Uayameo, today Santa Fé de la Laguna , and becoming dominant over the entire Lake Patzcuaro area by the 15th century. Conquest of neighboring tribes and territories occurred between 1401 and 1450, as they absorbed peoples with different cultures and languages into the empire. By the late 15th century, this state rivaled that of
5886-601: The Sierra del Centro located near the border with the State of Mexico. Except for the Tierra Caliente, most of the state can experience freezing temperatures in the winter. Rainfall is also dependent on altitude with the lowlands receiving less rain than the mountain areas. There is a well-defined rainy season which extends from June to October over the entire state. Ecosystems vary by altitude. Between 2,600 and 3,500 m (8,500 and 11,500 ft) above sea level, most of
5995-614: The Temple of San Francisco and the Eduardo Ruiz Municipal Museum. One other attraction is the narrowest house in the world as documented by the Guinness Book of World Records . Other important cities in the region are Apatzingán and Caracha. Uruapan is surrounded by hundreds of hectares of forests and by fertile fields growing fruits and flowers, many of which only grow here. Some of the natural attractions of
6104-454: The alphabet equivalents, enclosed in angle brackets, if it is not obvious. The two mid vowels /e, o/ are uncommon, especially the latter. The high central vowel is almost always after /s/ or /ts/ and is then almost an allophone of /i/ . The final vowel of a word is usually voiceless (whispered) or deleted except before a pause. Vowel clusters are very rare except for sequences that are generated by adding grammatical suffixes like
6213-409: The annual Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia . The festival consists of more than forty concerts with over 500 artists from Michoacán and from around the world. Other festivals include the popular SalsaMich that features a 3-day Salsa dance competition. The Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia is celebrated annually that is dedicated to Mexican cinema . The Plaza Monumental de Morelia
6322-607: The area, including the Pirinda, Nahua , Huetamo, Colima, Purépecha and other peoples. There are sites of formal settlements from all Mesoamerican periods. Important sites include El Opeño and those in Curutarán , Tepalcatepec , Apatzingán , Zinapécuaro and Coalcomán . The territory has been inhabited by the Nahua, Otomi , Matlatzinca , Pirinda and Teco peoples as well as the Purépecha. The main pre-Hispanic civilization of
6431-540: The area. They demonstrate the wealth and social networks of these peoples. Among these goods are "...probable turquoise (from one of several possible locations in northern Mexico or New Mexico), jade from the Motagua Valley of Guatemala, marine shell from both the Pacific and Atlantic Casts, iron pyrite mirrors reminiscent of types made in Oaxaca, and green obsidian from Pachuca in central Mexico. " This exchange
6540-610: The basic word order has been described as either SVO or SOV . However, most authors note that other word orders are frequently used for pragmatic purposes such as focus or topic tracking . Nouns are inflected by the basic formula Noun + Number + Case. The language distinguishes between plural and unspecified numbers, with no dedicated singular form. Plurals formed by the suffix -echa/-icha or -cha . warhít icha women- PL tephar icha fat- PL maru some warhít icha tephar icha maru women- PL fat- PL some 'some fat women' The nominative case
6649-425: The best sounding guitars and vihuelas in all of Mexico. The town is full of music shops that sell ten-string mandolins , armadillo -backed guitars ( concheras ), acoustic bass guitars; as well as regular classical guitars and mandolins, bajo sextos , vihuelas, guitarrones and many others. Many of the stores and workshops allow visitors to watch the guitar-making process directly. The Lázaro Cárdenas region
SECTION 60
#17327659715986758-465: The central and eastern portions of the state. Rainforest areas are estimated at 460,500 hectares. One problem facing the forested areas of the state is unsustainable logging. In addition to exploitable forest, there are also ecological reserves with tourist importance, especially the various monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the extreme east of the state. Michoacán's lakes, rivers and coastline make it an important producer of fish and seafood, both caught in
6867-515: The colonial government. These included Manuel de la Torre Lloreda , Gertrudis Bocanegra , José María Garcia Obeso and Ignacio López Rayón . During his campaign, Hidalgo returned to Valladolid, issuing a decree eliminating slavery. After Hidalgo's death, much of the insurgency and spies against the Spanish viceroy were located in Michoacán, with documents such as the "Primera Constitución o Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana" (First Constitution or Constitutional Decree for
6976-523: The country's largest rivers, the Lerma and the Balsas. These waterways are divided into three regions, called the North, Central and South. The North region includes the Lerma Basin. On the Lerma River is the Tepuxtepec Dam which has a capacity of 371 million m. Rivers that empty into the Lerma in Michoacán include the Tlalpuhahua, Cachivi and Duero. Another river basin here is that of Lake Cuitzeo , which extends over an area of 3,618 m (38,940 sq ft). The two main rivers that feed this lake are
7085-418: The dispersion of Zacateco groups from La Quemada . Like the Zacatecos, the Tecuexe were a tribe belonging to the Chichimeca nation. It is known that they settled next to rivers which they used to their advantage to grow beans and corn. They were also expert artisans, carpenters and musicians. Toribio de Benavente Motolinia wrote "in any place… all know [how] to work a stone, to make a simple house, to twist
7194-402: The few rare instances in the Americas were the indigenous people had some experience with metallurgy prior to the arrival of the Europeans, especially coppersmithing and other metal ores located in their empire. Their descendants are still widely regarded for this today. Prior to the arrival of any Spaniard in the territory, then-ruler Zuanga died of smallpox , presumably carried by one of
7303-445: The first Tlatilco phase, in the Valley of Mexico. The geographical extent of the Capacha pottery covers the entire Pacific coast between the Mexican States of Sinaloa, in the North, and Guerrero, in the South. Especially important are the burials uncovered by Gordon Ekholm in Guasave , Sinaloa. Archaeological evidence found in this site corresponds to the Preclassical horizon (1300 -200 BCE) settlements in evidence in this area. Jacona
7412-528: The first years of the Conquest, Michoacán was part of the "kingdom of Mexico" which included the current states of Mexico, Querétaro, Hidalgo , Tlaxcala , Oaxaca , Morelos , Guerrero, Veracruz , Tabasco , Michoacán, Guanajuato and parts of San Luis Potosí , Jalisco and Colima. These lands were divided into encomiendas among the conquistadors . The provinces with the largest populations were called Alcaldias Mayores, with Michoacán being one of these, with its capital initially at Tzintzuntzan . Soon after, it
7521-412: The highland areas in the north and east while the lower south and west, called La Costa (the coast) or Tierra Caliente (hot land) register higher temperatures. In the hotter lowlands, high temperatures regularly exceed 30 °C (86 °F) and have been known to reach over 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer. The lowest temperatures are registered in highland areas such as the Sierra de Coalcomán and
7630-487: The leadership of Salvador Escalante . The governor of the state, Aristeo Mendoza, resigned. Fighting among various factions would continue in parts of the state for the rest of the war. The state's current constitution was ratified in 1918. In 1920, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo was founded. Soon after the end of the Revolution, the Cristero War would affect the state, which affected agricultural production and distribution. In 1926, hostilities closed
7739-488: The letter ⟨i⟩ for both /i, j/ and the letter ⟨u⟩ for both /u, w/ , but both semivowels are fairly rare. When ⟨k⟩ or ⟨k'⟩ is followed by ⟨u⟩ and another vowel letter, the sequence virtually always represents the labio-velar phonemes. Intervocally, aspirated consonants become pre-aspirated . After nasals, aspirated consonants lose their aspiration and unaspirated consonants become voiced. Purépecha
7848-473: The many found similar archaeological evidence could corroborate this, regardless of the assigned name. The Purépecha are an indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of the Mexican state of Michoacán, principally in the area of the cities of Uruapan and Pátzcuaro. There is an ongoing discussion about which term should be considered as the correct one. It is believed that the Tecuexe derived from
7957-585: The monarch butterfly symbolizes the spirits of the dead as they journey from the afterlife . Protected areas in Michoacán include Barranca del Cupatitzio , Bosencheve , Cerro de Garnica , Insurgente José María Morelos , Lago de Camécuaro , and Rayón national parks , Monarch Butterfly and Zicuirán-Infiernillo biosphere reserves , and Pico de Tancítaro Flora and Fauna Protection Area . Lake Pátzcuaro and Zacapu Lagoon are Ramsar Sites , designated wetlands of international importance. The economy of
8066-561: The most elaborate and famous in all of Mexico. The famous Parícutin volcano, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World , is located near the city of Uruapan . The state is known as "the soul of Mexico". According to archaeological evidence, there has been human habitation within the territory of the Mexican state of Michoacán for at least 10,000 years. In the pre-Hispanic period, there were waves of migration into
8175-479: The municipality of Jacona in the state of Michoacán , Mexico. It is home to a prehispanic site, mainly known from the ceramic material found in the funerary complexes of the site, which have been dated to the Late Preclassic period . The importance of this site in mesoamerican archaeology is due to its antiquity and the ample diffusion of its style, contemporary to other native culture developments such as
8284-568: The need of serious studies of Cem Ānáhuac history, name of the territories known to the Mexica civilization before the Mexico Spaniards invasion and conquest. It is not clear if the name El Opeño, has some meaning or what is the original name of this site. In relation to the name of the city it is located, Jacona or Xucunan, there are several versions. According to the Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán , Jacona
8393-410: The northeast, the State of México to the east, and Guerrero to the southeast. The name Michoacán is from Nahuatl : Michhuahcān [mit͡ʃˈwaʔkaːn] from michhuah [ˈmit͡ʃwaʔ] ' possessor of fish ' and -cān [kaːn] ' place of ' and means "place of the fishermen", referring to those who fish on Lake Pátzcuaro . In pre-Hispanic times, the area was the home of
8502-409: The oldest antecedent of shaft tombs, which include this site archaeological material. The site architecture, as mentioned earlier, has very particular characteristics that were not included in the later necropoli of Jalisco, Colima, and Nayarit. The funeral architecture with similar or divergent characteristics was practiced by the peoples who lived in a wide continental region and at different periods in
8611-433: The percentage of speakers relative to non-speakers is falling, and the degree of bilingualism is rising, which makes it an endangered language . Fewer than 10% of speakers are now monolingual. The Purépecha are known to have migrated from elsewhere to their current location, as their tradition includes stories of having traveled from the Pacific Ocean to their current locations. Ethnohistorical accounts mention them as
8720-466: The plural - echa or - icha , the copula - i , or the genitive - iri . Vowel clusters are usually not the first two sounds of a word. Purépecha is one of the few languages in the Mesoamerica without a phonemic glottal stop (a distinction shared by the Huave language and by some Nahuan languages ). It lacks any laterals ('l'-sounds). However, in the speech of many young Spanish-Purépecha bilinguals ,
8829-409: The prehispanic era. This region extends from western Mesoamerica down to northern Peru along the Pacific coast. The geographical continuity and chronology of these practices requires deeper analysis to better understand the links between these peoples. Neither remains nor evidence of the builders of the tombs have been found around the site. Hence they have been represented as a people who were in
8938-440: The retroflex rhotic has been replaced by [ l ] under the influence of Spanish. There are distinct series of non-aspirated and aspirated consonants and affricate consonants ; in the spelling aspiration is noted by an apostrophe. There are two rhotics ('r'-sounds, one of them being retroflex ). The official orthography does not have distinct representations for the four phonemes /kʷ/ , /kʷʰ/ , /w/ , /j/ . It uses
9047-508: The seminaries in Morelia and Zamora. Near the end of the war, Lázaro Cárdenas was elected governor of the state and served until 1932; he became president of Mexico in 1934. Michoacán has been badly affected by the Mexican Drug War , due to its methamphetamine and marijuana production. That resulted in the start of an anti-drug trafficking campaign in 2006 , an anti-narcotics operation since 2006 , grenade attacks in 2008 ,
9156-527: The settlers of Acatic, Teocaltiche, Mitic, Teocaltitán and Xalostotitlán, but in Tepatitlán, when they encountered the Tecuexe, having heard of their legendary cruelty, the Mexica avoided facing them. Capacha is an archaeological complex of Colima, the west of Mesoamerica. The Capacha Culture was the first with complex traits that developed in the region, approximately between the years 2000 and 1200 BC. It
9265-634: The sixteenth-largest in Mexico (exactly at the midpoint among Mexican states in area). It also has 1,490 km (580 sq mi) of marine territory off its Pacific coast. The state is crossed by the Sierra Madre del Sur , the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Inter-mountain Valleys region. The Sierra Madre del Sur crosses the state northwest to southeast for approximately 200 km (120 mi) in
9374-686: The southwest between the municipalities of Chinicuila and Arteaga along the Pacific Coast. It is considered to be a continuation of the Sierra Madre Occidental . Peaks in this range average about 2,900 m (9,500 ft) above sea level, with the largest being the Cerro de las Canoas. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt crosses the state from west to east toward the Toluca Valley and Valley of Mexico . This mountain range
9483-516: The state became a department again, regaining state status in 1856. In 1857, Contepec was separated from the state of Guanajuato and attached to Michoacán. In 1863, the diocese of Michoacán was reduced in size, but its status was also elevated to archdiocese. During the French Intervention in Mexico , Morelia was taken by French forces in 1863. Since resistance to the French was particularly strong here, punitive acts were undertaken by
9592-481: The state include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia-Patzcuaro highway. Intercity and interstate buses provide connections to places within the state and the rest of Mexico. About 91% of these bus lines are second class while just under nine percent are first class. Most rail lines are limited to the north and center of the state, providing freight service to Mexico City and Guadalajara. The state's main port
9701-420: The state is based on agriculture, ranching, forest products, fishing and crafts. Most of the population is employed in three sectors: agriculture (34%), mining and manufacturing (23%), and commerce (37%). Agriculture occupies over a million hectares of land in the state or 20% of the land area. Three-fifths of this agriculture occurs only during the rainy season. Irrigation farming is restricted to areas such as
9810-502: The state is that of the Purépecha, which was centered in the Lake Pátzcuaro area. Before the 13th century, both Nahua and Purépecha peoples were here, sustaining themselves by agriculture and fishing. The Purépecha are descendants of a late arrival of Chichimeca who came from the north. At Lake Patzcuaro, they came upon people with similar cultures to their own but who were more technological and socially advanced. The formation of
9919-410: The state's production of meat, dairy and eggs was valued at over four billion pesos. Sixty percent of the state is covered in forest, with the most economically important of these located in the higher elevations at the eastern side. These forests mostly produce lumber and resin. These areas are estimated at 2,160,000 hectares, over half of which is pine forest. The most productive forests are located in
10028-776: The state. The Morelia region stresses its cultural and artistic heritage, especially its colonial architecture . The most important colonial structures are in Morelia and built in the 18th century. These include the cathedral, finished in 1744 and the main aqueduct finished at the end of the century. This architecture has made the city a World Heritage Site. In addition to the state capital, the region includes towns such as Charo, Capula, Tiripetio, Cuitzeo and Huandacareo , which contain archaeological sites, water parks and traditional cuisine. The rural areas of this zone contain more than 400 thermal springs, many of which have been turned into recreational areas and parks. These include Reino de Atzimba, Cointzio, Huandacareo and El Ejido. Morelia holds
10137-404: The status of Purépecha changed, and throughout the 20th century, the Mexican government pursued a policy of Hispanicization . Speakers of indigenous languages were actively encouraged to abandon their languages in favor of Spanish. However, in accord with international changes in favor of recognizing the linguistic rights of indigenous peoples and promoting multiculturalism in colonial states,
10246-410: The struggle between centralists and federalists in Mexico in the 19th century, Michoacán's rights as an entity would change depending on who was in control. The state was declared a department in 1836 but became a more independent state again in 1846. Colima broke off from Michoacán to form its own state in this year. In 1849, the municipality of Coyuca was separated to form the state of Guerrero. In 1853,
10355-539: The territory it has today. During the entire colonial period, the economy was concentrated in the hands of the Spanish-born, who held vast lands and haciendas. They also held the rights over minerals mined in places such as Tlalpujahua, Angangueo and Huetamo . Indigenous peoples were exploited for their work, and slavery was not uncommon. Education was restricted for only those born in Spain and their descendants and
10464-483: The territory. Some of the best-known are Juan de Moya , Martín de la Coruña and Jacob the Dacian . As first governor, Nuño de Guzmán disrupted and devastated the social and economic order of the area. Vasco de Quiroga succeeded Guzman, bringing Franciscan and Augustinian friars to both evangelize and repair the area's broken economy and social institutions. Quiroga founded the Spanish city of Patzcuaro in 1538, calling it
10573-405: The time of the death of Taríacuri , in around 1350, his lineage was in control of all the major centers around Lake Pátzcuaro. His nephew Hiripan continued the expansion into the area surrounding Lake Cuitzeo . In 1460 the Purépecha State reached the Pacific Coast at Zacatula , advanced into the Toluca Valley , and also, on the northern rim, reached into the present-day state of Guanajuato . In
10682-487: The traits defining the Mesoamerican language area , suggesting that the language is a remnant of an indigenous substrate that existed several thousands of years ago before the migration of speakers that contributed to the formation of the sprachbund , or alternatively is a relatively new arrival to the area. Purépecha has long been classified as a language isolate unrelated to any other known language. That judgement
10791-441: The transition towards sedentary agriculture that characterized mesoamerican urban societies of the mid-Preclassical. However, analysis of archaeological materials, both human bone remains and offerings found in the tombs, indicates that the tomb builders were members of a clearly sedentary people with a high social stratification as reflected in the differences of the offering goods. A large number of imported goods have been found in
10900-500: The vegetation are conifer forests. Between 1,000 and 2,600 m (3,300 and 8,500 ft), there are mixed forests and below this are broadleaf or tropical forests. Tree species include oak, cedar, and pine. Mango trees can be found in the eastern and western regions. Animal types vary from region to region but among mammals these can be found: skunks , raccoons , cacomistle , coyotes , lynxes , rabbits, bats , deer , armadillos , mountain lions , foxes, and jaguars . The latter
11009-835: The wild and farmed. The most important commercial fishing is for tilapia and carp . Mining is an important economic activity in the state, which is mostly concentrated on the eastern side near the Mexico State border. However, iron is mined in the Lázaro Cárdenas area near the coast. Both metallic and non-metallic minerals are mined in the state. These include silver, gold, zinc , cadmium , lead, iron, copper, fill dirt , sand , gravel , lime , limestone , marble , and others. There are thirteen principal mining areas: Tlalpujahua, Angangueo, Los Azufres, Real de Otzumatlán, Tzitzio, Tiámaro, El Bastán, San Diego Curucupacéo, Inguarán, Las Truchas, and La Minita de Coalcomán. Michoacán
11118-717: The zone include the Santa Catarina Dam and the La Tzaráacua and La Tzararacuita waterfalls. Smaller towns and villages in this region are known for their religious and popular festivals, many of which occur in the summer. Examples of these are the feasts of Señor del Calvario in Quinceo, of San Mateo Ahuiran in Paracho and the National Guitar Festival in Paracho. The best-known town in the region
11227-509: Was adopted after the Mexican Revolution in 1917. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Augustinian, Franciscan and Carmelite missions were constructed in the territory as well as civil constructions, especially in the city now known as Morelia. Mining in areas such as Angangueo , Tlalpujahua and Inguaran had begun, as well as the establishment of agricultural and livestock haciendas . The first school of higher education, called
11336-595: Was controlled by the Church. The main educational institutions were the Colegio de San Nicolas, founded in the 16th century; and the Seminary of San Pedro and San Pablo, founded in the 18th century. These schools produced a number of distinguished men, but the best-known is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla . At the end of the 18th century, ideas from Europe began to infiltrate the upper classes of the state, especially in Valladolid (Morelia) and Zamora . These would eventually lead to
11445-500: Was established in 1951, which was destined exclusively for bullfights . Nowadays, the ring also hosts concerts, lucha libre , and weddings. The Uruapan region stresses its cultural and natural heritage. The city is one of the oldest settlements in the state, which was initially settled by the Meseta Purépecha . This city contains a number of attractions such as La Huatápera, colonial era hospital founded by Vasco de Quiroga,
11554-548: Was moved to Patzcuaro and eventually settled in what is now Morelia. The provincial and later state capital was founded by viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1541. It became the political and ecclesiastical center of the province after the death of Vasco de Quiroga in 1565. Soon after the Spanish Conquest, evangelists from the Franciscan , Augustinian , Carmelite and other orders established monasteries all over
11663-571: Was originally a seminary for the training of evangelists. It was granted a royal seal in 1543 to become the Real Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo. The school was moved to Morelia in 1580 and was fused with the Colegio de San Miguel Guayangareo. In 1590, its name was changed to the Seminario Tridentino, afterwards to Seminario Conciliar in 1601. By the end of the 17th century, the name returned to Colegio de San Nicolás but its structure
11772-650: Was profoundly changed, adding studies such as philosophy, civil law, and others. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, a number of figures associated with the Mexican War of Independence, such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José María Morelos and others were associated with this school. By the mid-19th century, the school had been secularized and renamed the Primitivo y Nacional Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo adding studies such as chemistry, physics and other sciences. The current name and organization
11881-580: Was studied and discovered by Isabel Truesdell Kelly , American archaeologist who made excavations in the area of Colima in the year 1939. The similarities between the pieces of this Culture and contemporary ceramics of the Ecuador region indicate that there were some very early relationships between western Mesoamerica and the Andean Cultures. Capacha was contemporary to other important Mesoamerica cultural developments such as El Opeño, Michoacán, and
#597402