In the pre-Hispanic period the territory now occupied by the
city of Guanajuato was chiefly inhabited by nomadic tribes generically
known as Chichimecas who lived by hunting and gathering.
The city of Guanajuato was founded by the Spanish in the 16th
century. Don Rodrigo Vazquez was granted the central part of
the state of Guanajuato where he started looking for silver
and other precious metals. Several mines were opened and indian
were made slaves and put to work to extract the precious metal
from the earth. Guanajuato soon became the silver-mining centre
of the world. The spaniards also took advantage of the fertile
plains in the region. Several fruits and vegetables were brought
from Spain and cultivated in Guanajuato to realize bumper crops.
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In the sixteenth century, the colonists built theatres, churches,
museums, squares, markets and side streets. Universities were
built and artists and musicians were encouraged. Many of these
monuments still exist today from which cultural manifestations
surge out. This period of bliss lasted till the 19th century.
Mexican war of Independence
Father
Miguel Hidalgo instigated the Indian and mestizo population
to revolt against the spaniards. In September 1810, he and his
band of revolutionaries encountered stiff resistance at while
trying to win Guanajuato. Several thousand soldiers were killed
in this bloody battle but the rebels managed to win the city.
Father Hidalgo was later captured and executed by firing squad
on July 31, 1811. After eleven more years of fighting Mexico
won independence from Spain on August 24, 1821. Guanajuato was
named 'Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO in 1988, for
the magnificent colonial buildings that make up its architecture.
