European presence the Sierra Juárez dates to 1526 when the Spaniard settled San Ildefonso Villa Alta and began to distribute the surrounding lands into encomiendas. By 1548, there were nine encomiendas providing tribute in the form of turkeys, chocolate, corn, honey, chile, and beans, as well as sewing cotton for their encomenderos. Nevertheless, the Spaniards were never numerous in the region and in 1556 there were only 20 “vecinos” and there were never more than 100 or 150 during the colonial period (Chance 1989).
The Sierra Juárez Zapotec fought against the Spaniard again and again until finally after rebelling again in 1570, the Zapotec Alcaldia Mayor was divided to conquer them (Gerhard 1972). Te Dominicans re-congregated the communities in 1572, including the six communities of the Cojonos and the villages of the Rincón. The diverse tribute work, the sicknesses and epidemics, along with the congregaciones (resettled settlements) caused an estimated population reduction of 60 percent in the Cajonos, Rincón and Choapam, to the extent that 30 communities were wiped-out during the 16th century and seven during the 17th century (Chance 1989). Then, by the 18th century, one finds the same communities that exist today.
The Dominicans established themselves in the region in 1556, introducing their doctrines in 34 communities where indigenous functionaries were put in charge of religious activities, especially the patron saint celebrations (Chance 1989).
The economic situation during colonial times was, at best, precarious. There were a few haciendas and limited mining that concentrated in Ixtlán. The sewing of cotton mantas and production of cochinilla by individual families were the most important activities in the region that were controlled by most powerful alcaldes (mayors) between 1550 and 1810 and they determined the way the region was integrated into colonial and regional markets (Chance 1989).
In the Sierra Juárez, unlike in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, each community maintained a certain level of autonomy. In the 18th century, the caciques and principales(by inheritance) were the middlemen in the colonial economy, retaining political power.
WORKS CITED:
Chance, J. 1989. Conquest of the Sierra: Spaniards and Indians in Colonial Oaxaca. University of Oklahoma Press.
Gerhard, P. 1972. A Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain. Cambridge University Press.