Chiapas' colonial history is closely related to Central America; Chiapa and
Soconusco provinces, merged in the XVIII century, were part of the
Guatemala General Captaincy. Chiapas' colonial art is a witness of this
circumstance. Architecture, stuffed sculpture, golden altarpieces have an undeniable
relationship with Guatemala's art.
Our colonial history was characterized by isolation, poverty, slow cultural mixing process,
which continues up to our days and cyclic quarrels. Lacandones' resistance to
cristianization, Tuxtla Zoques rebellion to the end of XVII century and most
of all Tzeltales' big rebellion started at Cancuc in 1712, which
results continued over almost all the XVIII century. Injustice and devotion have always been
detonator elements in those rebellions.
The colony also brought more human and cultural diversity. Mayas, Zoques, and
Chiapas' people mixed with Europeans and Africans, even they were few, helped
greatly to state's culture. For instance Zoques were the promoters of the Marimba,
Chiapas' characteristic musical instrument.
