Pre-Hispanic era Guanajuato

chupícuaro statuette @ louvre

in pre-hispanic era, bajio saw human development due fertility of soil , presence of surface water agriculture. oldest group inhabit area people known chupícuarios, dominated center of bajío area , active between 800 bce , 300 ce. largest city site called chupícuaro, , influence widespread being found in modern states of zacatecas, querétaro, colima, nayarit, hidalgo, state of mexico, michoacán , guerrero. chupícuaro cities associated toltec city of tula , when city fell, these agricultural cities of guanajuato went decline. , prolonged drought cause these cities abandoned between 10th , 11th centuries guamares left ethnically.

then chichimeca , other nomadic groups entered area. these nomadic indigenous groups generically referred chichimeca, in reality variety of ethnicities such guachichiles, pames , zacatecos. these groups warlike, semi nomadic , did not practice significant agriculture, nor did construct cities. part of state inhabited otomi displaced or dominated purépecha in southwest , chichimeca in other parts. 16th century, of mesoamerica dominated either aztec empire or purépecha empire, guanajuato under control of neither. on northern border of purépecha empire southern guanajuato showing significant cultural influence in southern valleys, , aztecs had ventured area looking minerals. however, of state dominated various chichimeca tribes part of spanish call gran chichimeca. these chichimeca nomadic scattered agricultural communities, in north.