User:IsDeivid/Chiapas

The state of Chiapas, officially called Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas is a federative entity of Mexico, located in the southern region of the country and bordered to the north by Tabasco, to the east by Guatemala, to the south by the Pacific Ocean and to the west by Oaxaca and Veracruz. Its capital is Tuxtla Gutierrez and it has an area of 73,311 km², making it the eighth largest state in the country.

The state of Chiapas is home to a great cultural and geographic diversity, with a population of more than 5 million inhabitants (according to INEGI data in 2020), making it the eighth most populated entity in Mexico. The population of Chiapas is mainly mestizo, although there are also important indigenous communities, such as the Tzotzil, Tzeltales, Tojolabales, Ch'oles, Zoques, among others, who preserve their language and ancestral traditions.

History
The history of Chiapas dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when various cultures inhabited the region, including the Zoques, the Chiapanecas and the Mayas. The first settlers settled on the coast, and later spread to the mountainous and jungle areas.

In the 15th century, the region we know today as Chiapas was inhabited by various pre-Hispanic cultures, among them the Zoques, the Chiapanecas, the Tojolabales, the Tzeltales and the Tzotziles. These peoples maintained their own social and political organisation, and were engaged in agriculture, hunting, fishing and trade.

In 1486, the region was conquered by the Aztecs, who established a system of tribute and domination over the subjugated peoples. The Aztecs demanded payment from the Chiapanecas for quetzal feathers and cocoa, among other products, and also established a military garrison in the region.

Aztec domination did not last long, however, as in 1522 the expedition of Gonzalo de Sandoval, who had been sent by Hernán Cortés to explore and conquer the southern territories of Mexico, arrived in the region. Sandoval and his men confronted the Aztecs and managed to subdue them, which allowed them to advance towards the southeast and found the city of San Cristobal de los Llanos, which would later become today's San Cristobal de las Casas.

In 1528, the region of Chiapas was incorporated into New Spain as a province of Guatemala, depending directly on the viceroyalty of New Spain. The government of the province was in charge of a governor, who resided in the city of Ciudad Real (now San Cristóbal de las Casas), and who had jurisdiction over the entire Chiapas territory.

During the early years of colonisation, the Spaniards established a series of encomiendas in the region, which were large tracts of land given to an encomendero to exploit and receive tribute from the indigenous people. These encomiendas were very unpopular with the Indians, who saw them as a form of slavery, and also generated conflicts between the Spaniards themselves, who fought over control of the land and resources.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the Chiapas region was subject to various indigenous rebellions, which sought to regain their autonomy and freedom. These rebellions were led by characters such as the cacique Chiapa de Corzo, the Tzotzil Juan Cal y Mayor, and the Tojolabal Jacinto Canek, among others.

In the 18th century, the region's economy began to diversify, thanks to the exploitation of diverse natural resources, such as cacao, tobacco, indigo and coffee. In addition, a process of miscegenation began between the indigenous people and the Spaniards, which gave rise to a new cultural and social identity: that of the Chiapaneco.

In the 19th century, the Chiapas region became involved in the struggles for Mexican independence and the creation of a new nation. In 1823, after Mexican Independence, Chiapas was integrated into Mexican territory as part of the state of Chiapas and Soconusco, an entity that grouped the Chiapas region and the Soconusco territory, which had been ceded by Guatemala. During this period, Chiapas experienced a period of political and social instability, which led to constant rebellions and power struggles in the region.

In 1863, during the government of Benito Juárez, Chiapas became an independent state, which marked a significant change in the state's history. During this period, Chiapas experienced significant economic and social development, driven by the construction of new infrastructure and the establishment of new industries, such as coffee production.

However, this period of state independence was not without its problems. During this time, Chiapas was the scene of several armed conflicts, such as the Caste War, which took place between 1869 and 1870 and pitted indigenous Chiapanecos against state and federal authorities.

In 1877, the status of Chiapas as a federative entity was officially recognised, which consolidated the state's presence in the political and administrative structure of the country. From then on, Chiapas experienced a period of institutional consolidation and social development, which resulted in the construction of new infrastructure, the creation of new municipalities and the modernisation of the state economy.

In the 20th century, Chiapas continued to be a state with great ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Throughout the century, there were several events that marked the history of the state. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution broke out, and although Chiapas was not one of the most important stages of the conflict, there were some battles and confrontations in the region. During the revolution, armed groups of peasants and workers formed to fight for their rights and for social justice.

In the 1920s, Chiapas was governed by General Tiburcio Fernández Ruiz, who established an authoritarian and repressive regime. However, some public works were also carried out and the state's infrastructure was improved.

In the 1930s, the Mexican Communist Party was founded in the state of Chiapas, and intense political and social activity began. However, there were also clashes between communist groups and the government.

In 1940, construction began on the Pan-American Highway, which crosses the state of Chiapas from north to south. The construction of this highway was a work of great importance for the region, since it improved communication and commerce between the different municipalities.

In the 1950s, an important economic development was registered in Chiapas, thanks to the exploitation of coffee and other agricultural products. However, this development also brought with it the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, and the marginalisation of indigenous and peasant communities.

In the 1960s, several social movements emerged in Chiapas, fighting for the rights of indigenous and peasant communities. One of these movements was the Socialist Peasant Party of Mexico, which led the struggle for agrarian reform in the region.

In 1994, one of the most important events in the recent history of Chiapas took place: the uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). The EZLN is an armed movement fighting for the rights of indigenous and peasant communities in the region, and has achieved great visibility at national and international level.

Since then, the political and social situation in Chiapas has been the subject of intense debate and analysis. On the one hand, the importance of the EZLN as a movement that has placed the issue of indigenous rights and social justice in the region at the centre of the debate has been highlighted. On the other hand, the complexity of the situation in Chiapas, which remains one of the poorest and most marginalised states in the country, and which faces numerous challenges in terms of economic development, education, health and human rights, has been pointed out.

Demographics
Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico and is known for its cultural, ethnic and linguistic richness. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2020, the population of Chiapas was approximately 5.6 million people, representing 4.6% of the total population of Mexico.

The state of Chiapas is home to several indigenous ethnic communities, including the Tzotzil, Tzeltales, Tojolabales, Choles, Zoques, Mames and Lacandones. In 2020, it is estimated that about 26.2 per cent of the population of Chiapas identifies itself as indigenous.

In terms of gender distribution, 50.4% of the population in Chiapas are women, while 49.6% are men. In terms of age, 35.5 per cent of the population is between 0 and 19 years old, 59.3 per cent is between 20 and 64 years old, and 5.2 per cent is 65 years old or older.

The majority of the population of Chiapas resides in urban areas, especially in the capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and the larger cities such as San Cristóbal de las Casas, Tapachula, Comitán and Chiapa de Corzo. In 2020, it is estimated that 72.2 per cent of the population of Chiapas will live in urban areas.

Migration
Migration is a relevant phenomenon in the state of Chiapas, both in terms of the number of people who emigrate from the state and the arrival of migrants from other parts of Mexico and abroad.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2020, the state of Chiapas had a population of 5,543,828 inhabitants, of which 17% lived in urban areas and 83% in rural areas. In addition, INEGI reports that the net migration rate for Chiapas was negative in the period from 2000 to 2020, meaning that more people emigrated from the state than arrived.

Among the main causes of migration in Chiapas are the search for employment, poverty and insecurity. Most of the people who migrate are young people and adults of productive age, especially men.

The main destination regions for migrants from Chiapas are the states of Mexico, Jalisco, Veracruz, Nuevo León and Mexico City, as well as the United States. In terms of international migration, the main destination countries are the United States, Spain and Canada.

On the other hand, Chiapas is also an important destination for international and national migrants. According to INEGI, in 2020, the state of Chiapas had a population of 92,752 foreign-born people, mainly from countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the United States. In addition, Chiapas is a receiving state for internal migrants from other parts of Mexico, especially from states such as Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco.

Education
Education in the state of Chiapas is one of the most important aspects for the social and economic development of the region. Currently, the education system in Chiapas is decentralised and is divided into three levels: basic education, secondary education and higher education.

Basic education is compulsory and free throughout the state and consists of pre-school, primary and secondary education. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) for the year 2020, the enrolment rate in basic education in Chiapas was 98.6%, which means that the majority of the child population has access to basic education in the state.

In terms of upper secondary education, Chiapas has a wide educational offer that includes general, technical and technological baccalaureate and high schools. At this educational level, the enrolment rate for 2020 was 63.9 per cent, which indicates that there is still a significant percentage of young people who do not have access to higher secondary education.

In terms of higher education, Chiapas has several public and private institutions offering a wide variety of careers and academic programmes. The main institutions of higher education in the state are the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH), the Technological Institute of Tuxtla Gutierrez (ITTG), the Polytechnic University of Chiapas (UPChiapas), the Intercultural University of Chiapas (UNICH), among others. According to INEGI data for the year 2020, the enrolment rate in higher education in Chiapas was 22.7%, which indicates that there is still great room for improvement in terms of supply and access to higher education in the state.

It is important to highlight that, although education in Chiapas is free and compulsory, there are still important challenges in terms of quality and access to education in marginalised and rural regions. In addition, the lack of economic and technological resources remains a major obstacle for many young people and families in the state.

To address these challenges, the Chiapas state government has implemented various strategies and programmes to improve the quality of education and increase access to education in the most marginalised regions. These programmes include the construction and equipping of new schools, teacher training, the implementation of scholarship programmes and financial support for students, among other initiatives.

Religion
The state of Chiapas is religiously diverse, although the majority of its population declares itself Catholic. According to INEGI's 2020 Population and Housing Census, 72.8% of the state's population declares itself Catholic, while 10.2% declares itself evangelical, 1.6% professes other Christian religions and 0.3% practices a non-Christian religion.

In addition to Catholicism and Evangelicalism, other Christian denominations such as Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, among others, are also present.

There is also an important presence of indigenous religions, especially in rural communities, where diverse ancestral beliefs and rituals are practised. According to the same 2020 population and housing census, 4.4% of the state's population reported having an indigenous religion.

Likewise, Jewish, Muslim and Bahá'í communities are present in the state of Chiapas, among other religious groups.

It should be noted that in Chiapas there have been some conflicts between different religious communities, especially in rural areas, due to differences in the practice of their beliefs and rituals. However, in general, the state of Chiapas is characterised by tolerance and respect for different religious beliefs.

The following is a list in order of the religions with the most members in Chiapas, based on data from INEGI's 2020 Population and Housing Census:


 * 1) Catholics: 3,129,025
 * 2) Protestants and Evangelicals: 655,794
 * 3) Jehovah's Witnesses: 26,848
 * 4) Seventh Day Adventists: 18,081
 * 5) Non-evangelical Biblical: 13,784
 * 6) Judaism: 864
 * 7) Islam: 577
 * 8) Other religions: 7,292
 * 9) No religion: 862,484

It is important to note that this data may vary and that the 'no religion' figure may include people who do not identify with any religion, as well as those who did not wish to declare their religious affiliation in the census.

Culture
The culture of Chiapas is rich and diverse, with a mix of indigenous, European and African influences. The pre-Hispanic culture of the region dates back to the Mayan and Zoque civilisations, which inhabited the territory for thousands of years. The arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century had a great impact on the culture of the region, and from then on a mixture of cultures began to develop that has lasted until the present day.

The culture of Chiapas is characterised by a great variety of artistic and cultural manifestations, ranging from music and dance to handicrafts and gastronomy. The state's traditional music is very diverse, with African, European and indigenous influences. Some of the most popular musical genres in the region are son jarocho, marimba and the music of the native peoples.

Dance
Dance is a form of artistic expression deeply rooted in the culture of Chiapas. There are a wide variety of dances practiced throughout the state, each with its own style and meaning. Most of these dances have their roots in the indigenous traditions of the region, but have evolved and blended with elements from other cultures over time.

One of the most popular dances in Chiapas is the dance of the parachicos, originating in the city of Chiapa de Corzo. This dance dates back to colonial times and is performed in honour of San Antonio de Padua during the city's patron saint festivities. Participants wear brightly coloured costumes and wooden masks, and perform acrobatic movements to the rhythm of marimba music.

Another popular dance in Chiapas is the dance of the quetzals, which is performed in the municipality of San Cristobal de las Casas. This dance represents the beauty and majesty of the sacred bird of the ancient Mayas, the quetzal. The dancers wear elaborate feathered costumes and perform movements that imitate the flight and courtship of the quetzal.

The dance of the coffee growers is another typical dance of Chiapas, originating in the Soconusco region. This dance represents the labour of the farm workers who cultivate and harvest coffee, one of the main agricultural products of the state. Participants wear work clothes and use agricultural tools during the dance.

In addition to these traditional dances, contemporary and folkloric dances from other regions of Mexico and the world are also performed in Chiapas. The city of Tuxtla Gutierrez has several dance schools offering classes in a variety of styles, from classical ballet to hip hop and contemporary dance.

Dance is considered an important part of Chiapas culture, and is promoted and celebrated in festivals and cultural events throughout the state. The Ministry of Culture of Chiapas offers support and funding to dance groups and local artists to encourage the preservation and development of the state's dance tradition.

Handicrafts
Handicrafts are one of the most outstanding cultural expressions of Chiapas. The artisans of Chiapas have inherited techniques and ancestral knowledge from their ancestors and have developed a great variety of utilitarian and decorative objects with materials such as wood, clay, wool, cotton and other natural resources.

Among the most outstanding handicrafts of Chiapas are textiles, such as the woollen textiles of the Altos de Chiapas region, the cotton weavings of the Tzotzil people of San Juan Chamula and the embroidered huipiles of the Tzeltales of Oxchuc. Also of note are the carved wooden objects, such as animal figures and traditional toys.

Another important craft in Chiapas is pottery, which has a long tradition in the region. Pottery is found in many parts of the state, with shapes and styles that vary according to the geographical area. Artisans make pots, casseroles, plates, vases and other utilitarian objects, as well as figurines and decorative pieces.

In some areas of Chiapas, leather objects such as belts, bags, shoes and sandals are made. In other regions, artisans work with wicker and palm to make baskets, hats and other woven objects.

The production of jade and other stone objects is also an important activity in the state. Artisans in the jungle region of Chiapas work jade to make jewellery and decorative objects, while in other areas there are lapidary workshops that make objects from obsidian, amethyst and other semi-precious stones.

Tourism is an important activity for the artisans of Chiapas, who offer their products in markets, shops and fairs throughout the state. Handicrafts are also a source of income for many indigenous and rural communities in Chiapas, where artisans work in family workshops and cooperatives.

Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Chiapas is very rich and diverse, with a great variety of dishes that reflect the influence of pre-Hispanic, European and African cultures. Among the most popular dishes of the region are cochinita pibil, mole chiapaneco, tasajo and the traditional pozol.