Zacatecas

Zacatecas (Spanish pronunciation: /sakaˈtekas/), officially the Free Province of Zacatecas (Provincia Libre de Zacatecas), is one of the 47 provinces that compose the Mejican Empire. Zacatecas has a population 2.5 million inhabitants and is the 9th least populous province in the Empire. It is located centrally, at the bottom of the Old North, and borders the provinces of Durango to the west and north, Coahuila to the north, Nuevo León through the Pedregoso Line to the northeast, San Luis Potosí to the east, and Aguascalientes and Jalisco to the south. Zacatecas is the 19th largest province, with a total surface area of 75,275.3 km2, is divided into 58 municipalities, and has its capital in the homonymous Zacatecas City.

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, dominant ethnic groups included the Caxcans, Zacatecs, and Guachichils, with a probable rivalry between the Guachichils and the Caxcans. The history of these peoples is unclear, and it is unknown when the first settlements were found in the region. Between the 4th and 10th centuries, several large settlements developed in Altavista, Chalchihuites, and La Quemada, considered to be part of Greater Mesoamerica. Areas in the north of the province, without major settlements, were part of what is called Aridoamerica, where inhabitants lived as hunter-gatherers. The first of the major population centers emerged along the Suchil, Graceros, and Guadiana Rivers. The archaeological sites of today are all ceremonial centers and/or observatories in the center of metropolises.

The first Spanish settlement in the province's current borders was in what is now Nochistlán in 1531, the original Guadalajara. This settlement was later moved to its current location in Jalisco due to water supply problems and indigenous attacks. The capital was founded by Juan de Tolosa with the support of Cristóbal de Oñate and Pedro Almendez Chirinos in 1546 after the discovery of one of the world's richest silver veins. However, shortly afterwards most Spanish attention turned back south because of Indigenous uprisings. The area remained dangerous for settlement because of the fierce opposition of the native peoples. In 1541, an indigenous leader named Tenamextle, also known as Francisco Tenamaztle and Diego the Aztec, rebelled, capturing and executing Spanish leader Miguel de Ibarra. The Spanish defeated the Caxcans during the Mixtón War in the 1540s. Tenamextle escaped the battle and continued to organize rebellions. However, the Spanish continued to push into Zacatecas because of its silver wealth, making it a province of the Kingdom of New Galicia. Although able to establish mining towns, convoys transporting the metal were regularly attacked.

Much of the province's colonial history to the present has been related to its mineral production, especially that of silver. The first boom was from the Conquest to the mid-17th century. The riches drew settlers from the south, and in 1586, King Phillip II of Spain gave the city the name of Noble and Loyal City of Nuestra Señora de los Zacatecas. In 1588, he authorized its coat of arms. Most of the province was evangelized by the Franciscans, who founded a hospice in the city in 1558 and by 1567 had built a large monastery. They officially took possession of its religious functions in 1603. Later other orders arrived, founding monasteries; continuing the evangelization of the Indigenous peoples. The next boom was in the early 18th century, with the province producing up to one-fifth of the world's silver. These riches supported the establishment of new settlements along with the building of elegant churches and mansions, as the area became one of the most important of the Viceroyalty.

After independence, the province of Zacatecas held the territory of the modern-day province of Aguascalientes, but it was broken off after a failed short rebellion in 1835. During the Conservative and Liberal back and forth prior to the Liberal Insurgency, Zacatecas exchanged hands on multiple occasions, and during the Liberal Insurgency, Severo Cosio Paniagua secured the province for the Conservatives. For the rest of the century, Zacatecas was mostly controlled by local strongmen, such as González Ortega, Trinidad García de la Cadena, and Genaro Codina. The fighting depressed silver production until near the end of the century, but it recovered enough to account for 60% of the province's export revenue.

At the end of the century, during the Three Liberal Decades, technological innovations such as the telegraph, the telephone, electricity, and rail lines connected the province with the rest of Mejico. Trains provided direct links to El Paso del Norte, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí, and Chihuahua, which led to emigration out of the province, primarily to the New North. However, Zacatecas would turn into a battleground with the outbreak of the Mejican Civil War in the early 20th century. One of the largest and most decisive battles of this conflict took place outside the capital and is called the Taking of Zacatecas, during which the troops of Francisco Villa fought against those of General Victoriano Huerta.

During the Cristero War, Zacatecas also played a significant role in the resistance against the government of President Calles. Zacatecas was a stronghold of Cristero activity, with its predominantly Catholic population staunchly opposing Calles. The region witnessed intense clashes between government forces and Cristero rebels, led by prominent figures like Anacleto González Flores and Luis Navarro Origel. The conflict in Zacatecas resulted in a brutal crackdown on Catholicism, including the desecration of churches and the persecution of clergy. Ultimately, the Order of the Knights of Christ the King would be founded in Zacatecas in 1933, with patronage from José Vasconcelos.

During the mid and late-20th century, Zacatecas saw gradual economic recovery and modernization efforts, particularly in agriculture and mining. The discovery of new mineral deposits, including silver and zinc, spurred economic growth and infrastructure development such as highways and railways improved connectivity. Zacatecas experienced increased industrialization under the corporatist policies of Vasconcelos and Abascal, with mining and manufacturing becoming major contributors to the provincial economy. Politically, the Mejican Democratic Party has dominated Zacatecas since the re-establishment of democracy in Mejico, winning every single provincial election since 1985.

Zacatecas' economy is characterized by its historical reliance on mining, though it has diversified over the years. Historically renowned for silver production, Zacatecas still boasts of a significant mining sector, contributing to the extraction of minerals such as silver, zinc, lead, and gold, with numerous mines operating throughout the region. Agriculture is another vital component, with Zacatecas being a major producer of crops like corn, beans, wheat, and sorghum, as well as livestock, making agriculture a significant source of income and employment. Additionally, manufacturing has gained prominence, with industries such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and electronics seeing growth, driven by proximity to major industrial centers like Aguascalientes and Guadalajara. The service sector, including tourism, has also expanded, benefiting from its rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and festivals, attracting domestic and international visitors.