The Caste War of Yucatán or ba'atabil kichkelem Yúum (1847–1915) began with the revolt of native Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula against Hispanic populations, called Yucatecos. The latter had long held political and economic control of the region. A lengthy war ensued between the Yucateco forces based in the northwest of the Yucatán and the independent Maya in the southeast.
Oil painting of the Caste War, c. 1850
An early 20th century henequen field in Yucatán
Monument erected in 1883 in Eulogio Rosado Park to the heroes of the Caste War
The Maya are an ethnolinguistic group of indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. The ancient Maya civilization was formed by members of this group, and today's Maya are generally descended from people who lived within that historical region. Today they inhabit southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and westernmost El Salvador and Honduras.
Maya women in traditional dress, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Chichen Itza's El Castillo
Yucateken
Former governor of Yucatán, Francisco Luna Kan, is a Maya with the very common surname "Kan"