Zoque people

TheZoqueare anIndigenous people of Mexico, who are related to theMixe. They speak variouslanguages, also called Zoque, which has several branches and dialects.
The Zoque consists of 41,609 people, according to the 2000 census.They live mainly in the northerly sector ofChiapasstate, principally in themunicipiosand towns of Amatán, Copainalá, Chapultenango, Francisco León, Ixhuatán, Ixtacomitán, Jitotol, Ocotepec, Ostuacán, Pantepec, Rayón, Totolapa, Tapilula, Tecpatán, Acala, Blanca rosa, andOcozocoautla. They also live in the northern part of theIsthmus of Tehuantepec, in the state ofOaxaca, including theSelva Zoque.
In thepre-Hispanicera, the Zoque lived throughoutChiapas, and Isthmus of Tehuantepec and parts of the state ofTabasco. They may have been descendants of theOlmec. They had a good social and commercial relationship with the laterMexica, which contributed to the economic prosperity of their culture in Chiapas. In 1494 during the reign ofAhuizotl, the Aztecs invaded and defeated them, and forced them to paytribute.
The Spanish conquest of the Zoque lands commenced in 1523, under the leadership of Luis Marin. The Zoque were parceled out among the Spanish settlers, and they endured forced labor and were obliged to pay high tribute. Diseases, exploitation, and the miserable conditions under which they lived contributed to a significant decrease in their numbers.
The situation of the Zoque did not improve with Mexican independence, since they continued to be exploited by themestizosandcriollos. Not until 1922 when they were assignedejidos(common lands), did their living conditions improve.
In the pre-Hispanicperiod, the Zoque lived throughout Chiapas, and as far away as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and parts of the state ofTabasco.
In 1494, the Zoque were invaded and defeated by the Aztecs, during the reign ofĀhuitzotl, and forced to paytribute.
The Spanish conquest of the Zoque lands commenced in 1523, under the leadership of Luis Marin. The Zoque were parceled out amongst the settlers, where they endured forced labor and were obliged to pay high tribute. Diseases, exploitation and the miserable conditions under which they lived contributed to a significant decrease in their numbers.
White-rimmed black pottery is characteristic of the Zoque people.
The Zoque traditional dress is worn almost exclusively by women and on special occasions. Some elderly men in remote communities wear white cotton shirts. Women traditionally wear short-sleeved white blouses, with colorfully embroidered open necklines, and longpoplinskirts in various colors. More recently, they wear knee-length dresses in various bright colors with white lacy trims. Until recently, it was customary for married women to undress the upper half of the body while they worked in the heat. Younger generations of women have become more timid about exposing their breasts.
Their houses are mainly rectangular, with one or two rooms. Traditionally the walls were made of adobe, or mud bricks, whitewashed inside and out, and the houses had earthen floors and roofs consisting of four sloping sides of tile or thatch. More recently, they are constructed with concrete blocks, cemented floors, and corrugated iron roofs. The kitchen is usually a separate structure from the main house.
As with other groups,agricultureis their prime economic activity. The crops vary according to the topography of the terrain. For the most part they raisemaize,beans,chiles, andsquash. Their commercial crops are coffee, cocoa, peppers, bananas,mamey,sweetsop, andguava. The soil is of poor quality, and therefore the output is low. They raise pigs and domesticated fowl in small quantities to augment their diet.
The Zoque also work in the construction industry in the cities.
This article draws heavily on thecorresponding articlein theSpanish-language Wikipedia, which was accessed in the version of 19 June 2006.