The Purépecha (also known as P'urhépecha or Tarascan) inhabited the highlands and lake regions of the Mexican state of Michoacán. One of the most prominent civilizations in Mesoamerica, they built a powerful city-state known as the Tarascan state. They were among the few civilizations to successfully resist the Aztec Empire and spoke a distinctive language unrelated to those of neighboring communities. The Purépecha are also known for being one of the few civilizations in Mesoamerica with advanced metalworking. They crafted tools, ornaments and weapons using copper and silver, among other metals. Their territory, centered around Lake Pátzcuaro, was organized into a strong centralized political system with a capital at Tzintzuntzan. The state was ruled by a hereditary leader called the Cazonci, supported by a network of regional administrators. The Purépecha maintained a military structure and a bureaucratic government that allowed them to expand and defend their territory effectively. Religion played a central role in Purépecha life. Their pantheon included deities associated with fire, sun, and war, such as Curicaueri, their main deity. Human sacrifices were common offerings to deities, practiced by religious specialists. Unlike many Mesoamerican cultures, the Purépecha language has no known relation to any other language family in the region. Despite colonization and forced conversion, Purépecha identity remains strong to this date, and has become a symbol for the modern state of Michoacán. Many of their practices, customs, political and social structures were vastly recorded in the 16th century document written by Fray Jerónimo de Alcalá. This document is known as Relación de Michoacán and has long inspired nation-wide interest in studying the Purépecha Empire.