The Mexican state of Jalisco has a long past, stretching back thousands of years.

Remains have been found in the area that date back to 15,000 years ago (Standish). The earliest elements of settlements can be dated to 5,000 BC, based on pieces of pottery and evidence of agricultural practices. The inhabitants, that spanned the customs of 15-20 different peoples, at this time were known for the underground burial shafts that built, known as tumbas de tiro (Standish). It was in the early 16th century that Spanish conquistadores claimed all of Mexico, including the area of the state of Jalisco. One of the conquistadores, Nuno Beltran de Guzman, was one of the last of the Spanish conquistadores, arriving in Mexico in the year 1530. He titled his campaign the Conquista del Espritu Santo de la Mayor Espaa, translating to the Great Spanish Conquest of the Holy Spirit in English (Standish). However, the Spanish royals issued a decree labeling the area of what is now the states of Nayarit, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, and Sinaloa as the Provencia de Nueva Galicia, with the capital being called Santago Galicia de Compostela. However, Beltran was one of the most violent conquistador, and the native Mexican peoples resented his invasion (Standish). As such, in 1786, they rebelled against the Spanish occupation. In the end, the rebellion succeeded, and a public proclamation of independence was established in 1823, creating the states of Mexico that are known today. As such, the birthday of the state of Jalisco is traditionally recognized to be June 16th, 1823 (Standish). Independence was not so easily kept, however. Their secession from Spanish occupation was followed by a varying periods of conservative and liberal rules. There was conflict between the two groups throughout this time. The liberals took

immediate control after the rebellion, allowing for the creation of a department of education and the nationalization of church properties, establish them as the dominant religion of the state (Standish). In 1852, the conservatives regained power, but this victory was short-lived, when in 1855, a reformist government came to power, making a number of revisions to the constitution that gave more power and civil liberties to the individual states (Standish). Jalisco is one of the most prosperous states of Mexico. 16% of workers exist in the primary sector, dealing with culture, livestock, and fishing, 30% in the secondary sector, dealing with mining, industry, and construction, and the other 54% work in the tertiary sector, dealing in commerce, tourism, and services (Standish). The Jalisco region is well known for many of its major crops, including corn, sugarcane, sorghum, maguey, and beans are major crops. Jalisco is commonly known as the cradle of tequila, due to the growth of maguey, one of the primary ingredients in tequila making (Standish). The percentage of people working in agriculture and raising livestock has been declining in recent years (Standish). The state of Jalisco celebrates a number of rituals and festivals throughout the year. Carnival and the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe are two large statewide events that occur during the year. Different regions engage in different celebrations. The Fiestas of El Seor de los Rayos in Tenamaxtln, La Candelaria in the Los Altos region, and the Virgen de los Dolores in Teocaltiche are a couple of these celebrations (Standish). Most of these events include parades, dancing, and entertainment options including fireworks and bullfights. Some traditional dances

of the Jalisco region include the aztecas, the sonajeros, the nachtes, and the baile de la conquista (Standish). While Spanish is the most common language, a number of indigenous languages still exist in small numbers, huichol being the most common, followed by nhuatl (Standish). Jalisco is one of the most populated states in Mexico, containing more than 6.7 million people, according to a 2005 census Important things to know for those living in Jalisco is that the tap water is impure and not safe for drinking and air pollution is known to be a problem between December and May (Guadalajara). When attending dances, women wear one of a number of festive adornments. One of these typical outfits is the vestido ranchero, based off of the style of the royal court of Spain. They remove much of the complicated lacework and silk that adorns that royal courts attire while also adding other brightly colored additions, usually with a flowery pattern of sorts. Another traditional outfit is the florecita, which consists of a simple, full skirt and a high-necked blouse. Men would typically wear entirely white clothing, adorned with a sash, sandals, and a straw hat. Through history, Jalisco has developed as a center of economic and artistic power in Mexico.