Morelos

Mexican State

Area: 4964sq.km/1916sq.mi

Population: 1,442,700

Morelos, Mexico's smallest state after Tlaxcala, is bordered on the north by the Distrito Federal (Federal District) and the Estado de México, on the west also by the Estado de México and by Guerrero, and on the south-east by Puebla. Situated on the southern slope of the Mexican central plateau, the state is surrounded by forested mountain ranges and lush river valleys with numerous waterfalls. Thanks to its proximity to Mexico City and its good communications Morelos is one of Mexico's most popular tourist and vacation areas. As well as mestizos there are closed communities of Nahua Indians in many parts of the state. Of the old-Indian ruins within the state of Morelos those at Xochicalco, Tepozteco, Chalcatzingo and Teopanzolco are the most imporant.

History

Numerous finds (Chalcatzingo, Gualupita, La Juana, San Pablo) indicate that this area had already been settled, or at least strongly influenced, by Olmecs in around 1200 bc During the Classic period Morelos lay predominantly in the sphere of influence of the Teotihuacán. Following this Xochicalco played a considerable role to which the strong influence of the Toltecs was later added. During the 11th or 12th c. the Náhuatl-speaking Tlahuicas (descendants of the Chichimecs), who had been driven from the Anáhuac valley, came into the area. In the first half of the 15th c. the Aztecs gained control and exacted tribute from the population.

In 1520 the Spanish, led by Gonzalo de Sandoval, had conquered parts of the region, while Hernán Cortés took present-day Cuernavaca in 1521 after bitter conflicts. In 1529 Cortés was granted extensive estates by Charles V and until 1540 he resided mainly in Cuernavaca.

The first sugar-cane plantation in New Spain was established in Tlaltenango with black slaves introduced as workers who, in the course of time, became assimilated into the Indian population. Some places in the state, including Cuautla, played an important part in the Mexican War of Independence (1810-21). After the war the state of Morelos was named after the freedom fighter José Maria Morelos. During the Mexican Revolution (1910-20) Morelos was the scene of the peasants' uprising led by Emiliano Zapata who managed to keep parts of the state under his control until he was murdered in an ambush near Cuautla in 1919.

Economy

Morelos is primarily a flourishing agricultural region, mainly producing sugar, rice, maize, coffee, wheat, fruit and vegetables. The existing mineral resources (silver, vermillion, iron, lead, gold, petroleum and coal) are still worked on a small scale. Tourism plays an important role.