OAXACA BACKGROUND INFO

OAXACA, MEXICO: A Little Background Information is Good for You!

The Mexican state of Oaxaca is located along the Pacific Ocean in the southeastern section of Mexico. Located where the Eastern Sierra Madre and the Southern Sierra Madre mountains come together, Oaxaca shares a common border with the states of Mexico, Veracruz and Puebla (on the north), Chiapas (on the east), and Guerrero (on the west). As the fifth largest state of Mexico, Oaxaca is characterized by extreme geographic fragmentation. With extensive mountain ranges throughout the state, Oaxaca has an average altitude 5,085 feet above sea level with only a small percentage of arable land.

Oaxaca's rugged topography has played a significant role in giving rise to its amazing cultural diversity. Because individual towns and tribal groups lived in isolation from each other for long periods of time, the subsequent seclusion allowed sixteen ethno-linguistic groups to maintain their individual languages, customs and ancestral traditions intact well into the colonial era and - to some extent - to the present day. For this reason, Oaxaca is the most ethnically complex of Mexico's thirty-one states. Even today, it is believed that at least half of the population of Oaxaca still speaks an indigenousdialect.

The city of Oaxaca de Juárez is a beautiful Spanish colonial city with a modern commercial and tourist center. It is also the capital of the state of Oaxaca and it is located at the junction of three of the smaller valleys that make up the Valley of Oaxaca. The ancestors of the Zapotecs were the earliest human inhabitants of the Valley of Oaxaca.

Zapotec families have turned to craft production for the major part of their income. There has long been a high level of craft specialization among the Zapotec villages of the Oaxaca Valley. Some villages produce crafts for the domestic market, such as the red pottery of San Marcos Tlapazola and the reed baskets of San Juan Guelavía. Other communities are known for their food including the cheeses of the Etla District and the famous mescal beverages of Matatlán. Artisans in many towns produce crafts for the international art market including the wooden figures of Arrazola and Tilcajete, the black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec, and the wool rugs of Teotitlán del Valle. The fine tradition of hand woven and hand embroidered textiles and clothing is still practiced extensively in many of the villages of Oaxaca with much pride and with a great variety of designs and styles. The traditional indigenous crafts, arts, and textiles of Oaxaca are unique and wonderful. And they can be collected and appreciated by discerning peoples of all nationalities, ages, and lifestyles. Enjoy!