Sierra Norte de Puebla - History

History

The first known culture based in this area was that of the Totonacs, who have occupied the area in northern Veracruz and the Sierra Norte de Puebla possibly since the 7th century, with major urban centers in El Tajín, Cempoala and Yohualichan reaching their heights between 600 and 900 CE. However, there was also considerable influence here from Teotihuacan when it was at the height of its power as well.

The Sierra Norte was important for its trade routes in the pre Hispanic period as it connected the Mexican Plateau with the Gulf coast. This location also attracted migrations of people, most notably the Nahuas and the Otomi. The first Nahuatl speaking people in the area were the Toltecs in the 7th century, gaining control of much of the Sierra Norte area by 919. Another Nahuatl group were the Olmeca-Xicalancas who came into the area from the south. There are two main dialects of Nahuatl spoken in the Sierra Norte but it is not known if they are the result of the two migrations. By the 11th century, most of the Nahuatl names that now dominate the area became established. The Otomis were pushed north and east of their probably original home in the Toluca Valley by Nahuas with the Sierra Otomi found in the far north of the region. By the 15th century, the Totonacs were weak and the Aztecs took over the area, pushing much of the population east and out of the Sierra Norte. It became a tribute province of Texcoco.

When the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century, the Totonacs allied with them to defeat the Aztecs. Evangelization began in 1535 first by the Franciscans and then by the Augustinians, but it was slow. In the early colonial period, the Spanish set up encomiendas in the area to control tribute collection, but the rough terrain and lack of mineral wealth kept the Spanish from imposing serious control. For the rest of the colonial period, the Sierra Norte would be almost completely populated by the same indigenous groups, Nahuas, Totonacs, Otomis and Tepehuas, living in the same overlapping territories for centuries.

The Sierra Norte’s isolation remained so until the middle of the 19th century, when cash crops, especially coffee, and transport for them began to be introduced. The railway came to the Sierra Norte from Tulancingo, Hidalgo in the latter 19th century which allowed the shipping of tropical products such as coffee, sugar cane and fruit to Mexico City profitable. The profits to be made then not only attracted Mexican mestizos into the area but also some European immigrants from Spain and Italy. These groups took over land from the indigenous groups. For example in Cuetzalan, descendents of Spanish and Italian immigrants still hold most of the local political and economic power in the municipality. This changed the political landscape to a mostly mestizo elite living in the main towns and the indigenous as an underclass in the rural areas.

This situation and rebellion by the Totonacs led to the political division of the pre Hispanic Totonacapan between the states of Puebla and Veracruz, with the Puebla section coming to be known as the Sierra Norte. There were various uprisings in all parts of Totonacapan which were all repressed. However, the most important was headed by Mariano Olarte from 1836-1838 when the bishop of Puebla banned traditional Totonac Holy Week ceremonies because they were considered too pagan. This rebellion was also put down but it sparked a series of political moves to weaken the Totonacs. These moves were most successful in the Sierra Norte because the area generally favored the prevalent Liberal policies of the latter 19th century and the multicultural character of the region put the Totonacs under more pressure to assimilate. The borders of northern Puebla fluctuated in the latter 19th century but were fixed to their current ones by the Mexican Revolution.

Most of the 20th century after the Revolution is marked by the integration of the territory and the introduction of modern conveniences and economy. The most important of these is the construction of highways into and through the region making it more accessible. Until the turn of the century, the only way to reach many communities was by air, foot or horse but today most are accessible by car, even if only by dirt road. The Mexico City-Tuxpan highway was constructed in the 1950s because of the petroleum production in northern Veracruz, cutting across the northern part of the region. The next major highway constructed here was in the 1970s, called the Interserrana, crossing the region east-west connecting the largest towns such as Tezuitlán, Zacatlán and Ahuazotepec and connecting them to the Mexico City-Tuxpan highway. In the 1970s and early 1980s, highway construction was delayed due to disputes with indigenous communities. The construction of highways and other infrastructure in the area remains a priority for both federal and state governments.

Education levels during the 20th century increased greatly. Public schooling became widely available in the 1960s. Most municipalities now offer education to the middle school level with high schools located in many. The access to education has been a factor in many youth leaving the area for better opportunities. The building of highways not only has served to bring people into the area but also has allowed people to migrate out.

Another major infrastructure improvement was the introduction of electricity which is available in even the most isolated communities and most have running water. This is due to the regions abundant hydroelectric resources. Roads for cars in many towns, running water, government medical clinics and electric power lines did not appear in many areas until the 1980s.

Despite the improvements, the region still remains behind the rest of the country in infrastructure. Drainage and sewerage services are still scarce. The linking of the region made the cash economy started and supported by the growing of coffee dominant. This brought in money for consumer goods such as televisions and radios. However, it has also made cash a necessity for food and many other goods. Coffee prices dropped after government controls were eliminated in the early 1980s. This has forced many in the area to migrate out, temporarily or permanently to other parts of Mexico and to the United States to work. This is especially true during the months between main coffee harvests.