Globalization was meant to improve the lives of the people of Zacatecas. It was thought that by bringing in manufacturing facilities, it would improve the economic conditions and alleviate poverty in the region, but those effects have yet to be felt. Often times companies move their manufacturing facilities to Mexico because they can pay them less than they would in the US. Many people in Zacatecas leave and emigrate to the US (like my own family) in hopes of forging a better future. It is hard for me to say whether or not globalization has helped the people of Zacatecas. I consider myself a bit of a globalist pessimist. But I remain hopeful that the people of Zacatecas will persevere and create a more prosperous future.

The economy of Zacatecas is the primary driver of much of the social change the state has experienced. The early colonization of the region was motivated almost entirely by economic factors as the early colonists wanted to mine the region for its rich silver deposits. The lack of economic opportunity has caused a lot of changes to happen over the years, mostly in the form of emigration out of the state or the formation of organized crime.

Most of the organized crime in the area actually exists because of the poverty in the region. Some of the older, longstanding cartels were actually started by farmers and ranchers in the region turning to cannabis cultivation as a means to earn extra money. Eventually cannabis has been legalized in Mexico, in an effort to stop organized crime. But many of these cartels soon turned to other narcotics, or in worse cases other forms of crime like extortion and trafficking.

The state has been making improvements in the area by attempting to attract new industries to the region. Free trade and globalization has allowed many foreign companies to outsource their manufacturing to Zacatecas, which has provided some job opportunities to the people there. The state has also raised minimum wages and help create new social programs to help lift people out of poverty.

In the end, the economy is the reason why the state has changed so much over the years, and I imagine as the economy improves, it will continue to change, hopefully in more positive ways.

Spanish Missions played a crucial role in the colonization of Mexico, and thus they were responsible for affecting the ancestors of my community. These Spanish Missions were established in nearby indigenous communities in order to evangelize the local populations. Oftentimes these missions acted as extensions of the Spanish crown, and were responsible for administering the newly acquired territories. Many of these missions would provide education and healthcare to the local peoples, but this usually was meant to be a subversive way of converting the local people to Catholicism. These missions spread allover the Americas, attempting to convert any of the local populations they came into contact with.

Despite the efforts of Colonizers to convert the native populations, some indigenous cultural traditions and beliefs have survived and have been incorporated into the local Catholic beliefs to this day. One of the most famous of these indigenous traditions is the Day of the Dead celebration. Another one of these spiritual beliefs that was incorporated into the local catholic communities was Nuestra Senora De La Santa Muerte. She is the considered to be the personification of death, and she is often prayed to for healing, protection, and safe passage into the afterlife. La Santa Muerte is descended from the Aztec deity Mictecacihuatl; the Aztec goddess of death and ruler of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. Historically, La Santa Muerte was condemned by the Catholic church, and patronage of La Santa Muerte was strongly discouraged. It wasn't until recently that patronage of La Santa Muerte has become accepted practice.

The state of Zacatecas and her people have suffered a tremendous amount throughout history. The traditions, beliefs, customs, and culture of the region have changed dramatically because of colonization and the Spanish Mission's attempts to evangelize the local indigenous peoples. Still though, some beliefs and cultural practices have survived, creating a unique blend of Spanish and indigenous beliefs & traditions that give the region its unique culture.

Spanish colonization resulted in an immense amount of social change. Local traditions, beliefs, customs, and identity was either wiped away or incorporated into the Spanish colonies over the next couple hundred years. But this didn't come without resistance from the native people who lived there. Because of this, some native cultural traditions and identity have managed to survive.

• Globalization

  Globalization as had a huge impact on the people of Zacatecas. Usually through the form of colonization, economic policy, and immigration. Zacatecas has had its culture and society changed in dramatic ways as it has become more incorporated into the international community.

• Religion

  Religion was a major force for change in Zacatecas. It was a powerful tool that the colonizers used to subjugate, assimilate, and influence the people of Zacatecas. Over the course of hundreds of years, Spanish missions sought to evangelize the indigenous peoples of Zacatecas. Gradually the old traditions, customs, and beliefs of the indigenous peoples was either erased or incorporated into the Catholic belief system.

• Economics

  Economic conditions in Zacatecas is probably the root cause of much of the problems and changes that Zacatecas has face in recent years. Poverty has plagued the region for a long time, and many rural, indigenous people lack an education or opportunities to earn higher incomes. Indigenous peoples also face an immense amount of discrimination, and because of their lower social location, they tend to be the most frequent victims of violent crime. Poverty is also the reason many turn to organized crime, as many people in the state see it as their only opportunity to earn a decent income. The economics of the region has led to an increase in crime and outward migration away from the state. Many of the people who flee tend to be poor, rural people. This has caused the demographics of the region to change over the years as many of the people who flee tend to be of native descent.