Tlaxcala

Santa Maria Belen Azitzimititlan (map courtesy of Hugo G. Nutini), the focus of our study, is a small town in Tlaxcala, municipio of Apetatitlan de Antonio Carvajal (#2 on the map of municipios), about 8 km north of Chiautempan. Tlaxcala is the smallest state in Mexico, but has a hefty presence on the web. Sources for SECTUR images cited below.

These images ©Copyright SECTUR 1995 Source: Secretario del Turismo de Mexico

Overview

For a geographic overview of Tlaxcala we may consult a relief map centering on Mount Malinche, where Belen is on the highway just above Contla. Source: Mexico Desconocido, Virtual, Editorial Jilguero S.A. de C.V. (their narrative on the desert region in the eastern part of Tlaxcala ends in the map image). Characteristics of the State of Tlaxcala and its major cities, and a road map of Tlaxcala are ©Copyrighted by Tour by Mexico® (source of their map). Today the industrial sector, including auto factories, is the most important in the state economy, and this is where most Belenos (and Tlaxcalans) get their wages.

Religious Notes

The Day of the Dead in the Capital of Tlaxcala has been marked for more than 30 years by annual competitions to make ofrendas.

Governmental and Historical

In June 1997, Tlaxcala voted 44% for PRI, 24% for PRD, and 19% for PAN. Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo of the PRI gave a speech in the cabecera of Belen's municipio on September 17, 1997.

Due to its alliance with the Spanish in the conquest of central Mexico, Tlaxcala is called the "cradle of mestizaje" on its government home page. The colonial Codex Lienzo de Tlaxcala was written to remind Spaniards that the conquest would not have been possible without Tlaxcalan help. The haciendas in the region did not displace but are in symbiosis with Indian-Mestizo communities descended from the original Tlaxcalans.

Maps of Tlaxcala

Many of the following maps are scanned from published work and hence are available by access with a classroom-use password.

A map of Tlaxcala in the Religious Colonial period when the first census was taken by the Franciscan Friars administering to the population.

A map of the Haciendas in 1712. Image ©Copyright Isabet Gonzalez Sanchez, Haciendas y ranchos de Tlaxcala en 1712. 1969. INAH, Mexico, D.F.

The following images ©Copyright Leonardo Ballesteros, Nueva Geografia Elemental del Estado del Tlaxcala. 1968. Mexico, D.F.:

Municipios Roads and Elevations Wheat Growing Regions Maize Growing Regions Pulque Growing Regions Belen is one of the communities where both maize and wheat are grown, but no pulque.
These images ©Copyright Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informatica, Tlaxcala Cuaderno de Informacion para la Planeacion. 1990. Aguascalientes, Ags.: Population Density in 1980 Living Standards in 1980 Employment in 1985 I ncome per Capita in 1980

Belen is one of the communities of medium population density, living standards, employment and income per capita within Tlaxcala.