Edgar Leon

The Folklore Behind the Legendary City of Oaxaca.



Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009

by Edgar Leon
Patawalk Virtual Tours

Due to the impressive colonial architecture and nearby pre-Hispanic ruins, in 1987, the UNESCO foundation declared the city of Oaxaca a World Heritage Site. However, to understand what made the United Nations set their eye on this city and give it such a prestigious title among so many cities in the world, you must understand a little bit of its history, so bear with us.

The history of this city goes back 501 years before the United Nations set their eyes on it, when another very different organization entirely, the Ahuizotl Warriors, founded the city in 1486. The region then came under indirect control of the Aztecs. However In 1521, after the fall of the Aztec Empire, Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, told the Spaniards that their gold proceeded from this region.

Thus they arrived in Oaxaca in 1521 in search of the precious metal. However, the city was now the midst of a war between the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, two rival pre-Hispanic nations. They were warring for control of the city; which ended with the arrival of the Spaniards.The region then came under Spanish control, and in 1532, by order of King Charles V of Spain , the region is granted the title of city and named Antequera. The city was known as Antequera for almost 300 years, but then, after Mexico declares its independence from Spain , the political establishment renames it to Oaxaca in 1821.

And today, after so many jolts between different nations, this city, Oaxaca , enjoys one of the best cuisines in the entire world, lavish baroque colonial architecture, rich pre-Columbian ruins, and a rich, varied and alive indigenous culture. If you are interested in submerging yourself in a place where pre-Columbian customs abide, this is the place for you. If you are looking for a place, where you can have a meal you can remember for the rest of your life, this is the place for you. You can get a glimpse of it in panoramic technology at http://www.patawalk.com/Tours/Oaxaca/index.php.

My name is Edgar Leon. I am an aerospace engineer, and when am not building a new aircraft, I am traveling half way around the world taking pictures and capturing with artful words my travel experience. I have been recently been traveling through out Mexico. I want to make my experience your experience, through my writing.

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Teresa Ortiz
 3 years 14 days ago.
186 fans.
Hi Edgar, welcome to searchwarp. Thank you for this interesting bit of history. Very well written. Keep Shasharing! Blessings to you, Teresa
» left by Cameron Home
 3 years 12 days ago.
15 fans. Follow Cameron Home on twitter!
Welcome to Searchwarp.
 
This was a really interesting piece of history.
 
Keep writing!
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