These nomadic indigenous groups are generically referred to as Chichimeca, but in reality they were a variety of ethnicities such as the Guachichiles , Pames and Zacatecos. These groups were warlike, semi nomadic and did not practice significant agriculture, nor did they construct cities. However, most of the state was dominated by various Chichimeca tribes as part of what the Spanish would call the "Gran Chichimeca".
These Chichimeca were mostly nomadic with some scattered agricultural communities, mostly in the north. Jaral de Berrios , one of the most important haciendas of the colonial era. As Guanajuato marks the beginning of the arid north of Mexico, at first relatively few Spanish came to settle as opposed to points south, where rainfall and indigenous labor was in much greater supply.
The discovery of silver and gold in the area of the city of Guanajuato spurred Spanish settlement of the area in the s and s.
Unlike the more settled indigenous peoples , the Spanish were unable to force the natives of this area to work and brought African slaves and indigenous peoples from other areas to work the haciendas and mines. In , San Miguel el Grande was founded to protect roads linking mining camps and cities with Mexico City. But through the first centuries of the colonial period, the city of Guanajuato dominated because of its mines.
The coat of arms of the state is that of the city of Guanajuato which was granted by Carlos I of Spain. This eventually allowed the Spanish to negotiate peace with chiefs in exchange for basic goods such as blankets, clothes and food.
