History Tzotzil people

two tzotzil women on street in san cristobal

based on linguistic , archaeological data, scholars believe common ancestors of contemporary tzotzil , tzeltal peoples entered chiapas between 100 bce , 300 ce. according spanish chronicles, before spanish conquest tzotzil exported quetzal feathers , amber aztec capital of tenochtitlán. produced salt wells near ixtapa , traded throughout chiapas highlands, , continued after conquest.

the spanish conquerors met comparatively little resistance in chiapas. in 1522, zinacantán lord cuzcácuatl sought spaniards offer of allegiance, , subjects afterwards helped spanish commander luis marín subdue neighboring tribes. on other hand, natives chamula fought hard against spaniards. , natives of huixtlán fled leaving nothing invaders make use of. unable obtain service or tribute people, spaniards returned gulf coast, , tzoltzil returned lands , lifestlyle. other spanish incursions in following decade spared tzotzil, numbers diminished diseases , hunger. many villages focibly relocated, , natives assigned vassals encomiendas (land grants) given spanish crown conquerors.

after spanish conquest, tzotzil centuries exploited laborers, first spaniards , ladinos (urban spanish-speaking people of spanish , native descent) own of land , dominate commerce. during of period, rigid caste system sharply divided natives ladinos, different rights , obligations. oppression led them revolt in 1528, 1712, , 1868. situation of tzoltzil worsened considerably in 1863, when laws enacted benito juárez stripped indian towns of corporate lands, forcing many zinacantecos become debt-indentured laborers on farms owned ladinos.

the sense of national pride has become stronger among tzotzil since 1940, natives have increasingly began occupy local administrative posts , used cultural identity political purposes. while sizable tzotzil communities have appeared in towns, other tzotzil towns have been undergoing reindianization formerly dominating ladino minorities have migrated larger cities.

with collapse of coffee prices in 1980s, sustainable employment has been hard many people in highlands find. both population , foreign tourism have risen, sale of artisan goods has replaced other economic activities. tzotzils sell products in nearby cities of san cristóbal de las casas, comitán, , simojovel. recently, , increasingly, many maya highlands of chiapas have found migration other parts of mexico , illegal immigration united states way break away subsistence farming , abysmal wages.

issues surrounding social integration persist, ladinos. support zapatista movement, other non-violent opposition groups such las abejas, strong among tzotzil.