The Purepecha, historically also called Tarasco, are mainly associated with Michoacan. Their language is notable because it is often described as a language isolate, meaning it is not clearly related to the major language families around it.

The Purepecha are historically important because their empire resisted Mexica expansion in western Mexico before the Spanish conquest. For citizenship study, they help balance the common focus on the Mexica by showing that pre-Hispanic Mexico included several powerful and distinct civilizations, not just one dominant culture.