Oaxaca City, Mexico
BY Kate DuFour and Rachel Brian
History and Location
Oaxaca was in the first place in Mexico where human settlements occurred in 11,000 B.C. Around 1200 A.D., Mexican Indians started populating the area. In the mid 14th century, Aztecs founded Oaxaca City, and they ruled over other groups and cultures. Europeans started moving in around the 15th century. By the 16th century,the indigenous population had been wiped out by diseases brought by the European settlers.
Oaxaca City is roughly 300 miles south of Mexico City. It is the capital of a state that is also called Oaxaca. It is located on the southern coast of Mexico, and the state itself has an area of 36,820 square miles. It is also located approximately 5,000 feet above the sea level, meaning that the state and the city have a perfectly mild climate.
Climate
Natural Resources
The Government
Languages Spoken
Tradition Music and Dance
Oaxaca has some traditional music and dances. Some of these dances include the Petate Bull Dance, the Turtle Dance, the Tiger Dance, the Badger’s Dance, the Masked Dance, and many more. These dances are filled with color, have a story behind it, and has history with the culture. The music is beautiful, spirited, and abundant. From mariachi bands to pan pipers, musicians in Oaxaca enjoy serenading people in the streets.
Monetary System
Industrial Capacities
Oaxaca is widely known for hand crafted goods. Some of these are pottery, clothing, and wood items. Although solo creators are the main roots of these goods, there are some small businesses that are just as successful. Mining has been another key industry to Oaxaca. These mines are rich with silver, gold, lead, coal, chalk, and many more minerals.