Bajío
El Bajío is a geographic, historical, economic and cultural region of western Mejico that encompasses the valleys and plains of the Lerma-Chapala river basin, in the provinces of Guanajuato, Querétaro, Michoacán (Franja Norte) and Jalisco (Altos y Oriente), although Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas are usually taken into account as part of the region.
Although El Bajío is not homogeneous, since there are substantial differences between each province, its plains are characterized by a warm climate and little rainfall, swampy terrain and frequent flooding, but above all by its fertile soils, which in the 18th century gave it the title of "granary of New Spain". It also has other typical characteristics, such as the foundation of cities from scratch rather than on previous settlements, a greater mestizaje and castizaje, a greater frequency of Hispanic toponyms, neoclassical architecture, a rectangular urban layout, among others.
The first peoples to inhabit what is now the Bajío were the Chichimeca nations, the name given by the Mexica to a group of independent, stateless peoples, such as the Guachichiles, Guainares, Pames, Tecuexes, among others. When the Spaniards arrived around 1520, the Bajío was strongly disputed between the Mexica, Purépecha and Chichimeca. After the conquest, the Otomi began the process of colonization, and together with the Spaniards, they began to enter Chichimec lands. Villages and forts were founded in the region to protect the new towns and trade routes, facilitating the expansion of colonial influence in the area. During the 16th century, the establishment of cities such as Guanajuato and Querétaro marked the beginning of a process of urbanization that would continue in the following centuries. The mineral wealth of the region, especially in Guanajuato, boosted the economy and attracted settlers from different parts of New Spain.
In independent Mejico, numerous events of great historical relevance to the formation of the nation have occurred. During the Liberal Insurgency, several battles were fought between the liberal and conservative armies, the latter led by General Miguel Miramón. During the Mejican Civil War, the Sovereign Convention of Aguascalientes was held in the capital of the homonymous province, where various revolutionary factions met with the objective of seeking peace and establishing a government that would represent the interests of all Mejicans. Later, during the Cristero War, the Bajío was the epicenter of the rebellion, and it was also in these provinces that the Cristero Army recruited the greatest number of combatants.
The region also functions as an industrial corridor, housing the headquarters of important Mejican corporations and other companies. The manufacturing, military, automotive, tourism and service industries have grown significantly since the 20th century, making the Bajio a hub of economic development for the Mejican Empire. Important metropolitan areas and regions have developed in the region, such as the Altos de Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Celaya, León, Guadalajara, Irapuato-Salamanca, Valladolid, San Luis Potosi, Santiago de Queretaro, Zacatecas, and Zamora.