History

In the pre-Hispanic period the territory now occupied by the city of Guanajuato was chiefly inhabited by nomadic tribes generically known as Chichimecas who lived by hunting and gathering.

The city of Guanajuato was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Don Rodrigo Vazquez was granted the central part of the state of Guanajuato where he started looking for silver and other precious metals. Several mines were opened and indian were made slaves and put to work to extract the precious metal from the earth. Guanajuato soon became the silver-mining centre of the world. The spaniards also took advantage of the fertile plains in the region. Several fruits and vegetables were brought from Spain and cultivated in Guanajuato to realize bumper crops.

In the sixteenth century, the colonists built theatres, churches, museums, squares, markets and side streets. Universities were built and artists and musicians were encouraged. Many of these monuments still exist today from which cultural manifestations surge out. This period of bliss lasted till the 19th century.

Mexican war of Independence

Father Miguel Hidalgo instigated the Indian and mestizo population to revolt against the spaniards. In September 1810, he and his band of revolutionaries encountered stiff resistance at while trying to win Guanajuato. Several thousand soldiers were killed in this bloody battle but the rebels managed to win the city. Father Hidalgo was later captured and executed by firing squad on July 31, 1811. After eleven more years of fighting Mexico won independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. Guanajuato was named 'Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO in 1988, for the magnificent colonial buildings that make up its architecture.

Back to the Top