Mixtec

The Mixtecs or Mixtecos are Indigenous peoples from Mexico. They live mainly in a region called La Mixteca in the states of Oaxaca and Puebla, as well as parts of Guerrero. Their culture, known as the Mixtec civilization, flourished from around 1500 BCE until the Spanish arrived in 1523 CE.

The Mixtec area is split into three parts: the Mixteca Alta, which is dry and higher in elevation; the Mixteca Baja, which is lower, hot, and dry; and the Mixteca Costa, which is low and very wet with tropical weather. Archaeologists have studied the Alta the most, finding signs of people living there from very early times.

Before Europeans arrived, Mixtec kingdoms sometimes worked together and sometimes fought, even teaming up with nearby Zapotec kingdoms. Like many other Indigenous groups in Mexico, the Mixtecs were conquered by Spanish invaders in the 1500s. There were about 1.5 million Mixtecs back then, but today their numbers are around 800,000 in Mexico, with many also living in the United States. The Mixtec languages are part of the larger Oto-Manguean language family.

Nomenclature and etymology

The word Mixtec, or Mixteco in Spanish, comes from the Nahuatl language and means "cloud people." The Mixtecs call themselves by different names, such as ñuù savi or nayívi savi, which mean "the land of the rain." Their historic homeland, La Mixteca, is known in their language as Ñuu Savi, Ñuu Djau, or Ñuu Davi, depending on the local dialect. They also have different names for their language, like sa'an davi or tu'un savi.

Overview

Long ago, before European explorers came, the Mixtec were an important culture in Mesoamerica. They built ancient cities such as Tilantongo, Mitla, and Monte Albán, which they shared with the Zapotec people. Mixtec artists were very skilled with stone, wood, and metal.

Later, when the Aztec Empire grew, the Mixtec had trouble as Aztec forces tried to take their land. Finally, Spanish explorers and their allies conquered the Mixtec in the early 1500s. Today, many Mixtec people live in different parts of Mexico and the United States, forming strong communities in places like California, New York City, and cities near the border such as Tijuana, Baja California, San Diego, California, and Tucson, Arizona.

Mixtecs in the colonial era

There are many records written in the Mixtec language from when Spain ruled the area. Scholars have studied these to learn about Mixtec society. While there are many records about land, there is less about trade. In the early days, Mixtec people still traded over long distances. By the 1700s, Spanish people mostly controlled trade, though some Mixtec merchants could speak both Spanish and their own language.

Some Spanish people lived in Puebla and worked with Mixtec people. There were also records of Mixtec leaders renting land to Spanish people and more people working for pay instead of following tradition. By the late 1700s, many leaders took part in Spanish business ways and some even married people who were not Mixtec.

Geography

The Mixtec people live mainly in the western part of the state of Oaxaca. Some communities are also in Puebla and Guerrero. Their homeland has three areas: the Mixteca Alta in the mountains, the Mixteca Baja to the north and west, and the Mixteca de la Costa near the Pacific coast. For much of their history, the Mixteca Alta was the most important area, with the main cities of the Mixtec people located there. The Valley of Oaxaca was often a border area, sometimes controlled by the Mixtec and sometimes by their neighbors, the Zapotec.

An ancient cave in the Coixtlahuaca Basin, called the Colossal Natural Bridge, is a sacred place for the Mixtec.

Mixtec rulers

The Mixtec people had many leaders who helped guide their communities. These leaders, often called rulers, played important roles in managing their lands and cultures. Their stories show how the Mixtec civilization grew and changed over time.

Language, codices, and artwork

The Mixtecan languages were spoken by many people. Many Mixtec speakers also knew Spanish. Some Mixtecan languages have different names, like Cuicatec and Triqui.

The Mixtec people made special books called Codices. These books used pictures to tell their history and family lines. They were made on deerskin and folded like books. One famous story from these books is about Lord Eight Deer, also called Jaguar Claw.

The Mixtec were skilled at making beautiful jewelry and decorations, especially with gold and turquoise. Their gold work was often given to the Aztecs. Turquoise masks were used in ceremonies and as gifts.