The Zapotec Civilization

By Tyler

and Joshua

     The Zapotecs were a very interesting community that had many unique beliefs and customs. As many Native American tribes, they were eventually brought down by the Spanish and their strong weapons and diseases. This Pre-Columbian civilization is one of the most unique and fascinating groups to ever live in Mexico.

     For general information on the Zapotec civilization click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapotec_civilization

     The Zapotecs became a civilization about 2,500 years ago, around the year 500 BC.

Their main city, Monte Alban, finally fell to the Spanish around the year over 500 years ago. There are still some remaining Zapotec people left in Mexico, but they are a very small group which is very rarely heard about.

      One of the most famous Zapotecs was King Cosijoeza. King Cosijoeza led the Zapotecs into battle against the Spaniards in several campaigns in 1522 and 1527. For more about Zapotec kings: <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/southamerica/before1500/history/zapotec.htm>

Another famous "person" was Lucia Zenteno. Lucia Zenteno was a very beautiful lady in Zapotec folktales. 

     They used a logo-syllabic system of writing that used a separate glyph for each word. To learn more about the Zapotec language click here: http://www.native-languages.org/zapotec.htm

     All  that is known about the foods of the Zapotecs is that they were a very agricultural community. They gave human sacrifices to the rain god Cosijo, in hopes of receiving more rain for their crops.

     The Zapotecs resided mostly in southern Mexico. The majority of the population lived in  Monte Alban; which is located in the Valley of Oaxaca. They often fought with the Mixtecs over land.

        Very little is known about the Zapotec childhood. Men in the Zapotc culture were expected to fight for their families and communities. Women made arts and tools to trade for money or food.

         Zapotecs were adept at using clay as an art medium. Most of these clay creations were covered in a grey paste and then decorated with a red pigment which may have been hematite. Clay artifacts that are painted white or are in very good shape are extremely rare. The Zapotecs believed that they had been created by the ultimate god Huichaana. They believed that Cozaana created all animals. They are believed to have worshipped the same principal deities as the Aztecs, just with translated names and appearances. More information about the Zapotec religion:

http://www.celerina.com/religion.html

         The Zapotec downfall was much like all of the other Native Americans who lived in the Americas. When the Spaniards came they most of them were forced into slavery, and eventually were killed by exertion or illness. The Zapotec civilization was mostly extinct by the year 1600.

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