Zapotec Civilization: Map & History
The Zapotec civilization is an indigenous pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in Mesoamerica.
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The Zapotec civilization is an indigenous pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in Mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence shows that their culture originated at least 2,500 years ago. The Zapotec archaeological site at the ancient city of Monte Albán has monumental buildings, ball courts, tombs and grave goods, including finely worked gold jewelry. Monte Albán was one of the first major cities in Mesoamerica. It was the center of a Zapotec state that dominated much of the territory which today is known as the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The Zapotec peoples are their modern descendants.
Modern Countries Once Part of Zapotec Civilization
At its mapped extent, Zapotec Civilization covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Zapotec Civilization's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Zapotec Civilization in Depth
History
Zapotec civilization originated in the Y-shaped Central Valleys of Oaxaca in the late 6th century BC. The three valleys were divided among three differently-sized societies, separated by 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi) "no-man's-land" in the middle. The city of Oaxaca much developed in that area in 1521. Archaeological evidence, such as burned temples and sacrificed war captives, suggests that the three societies competed against each other. At the end of the Rosario phase (700–500 BC), the valley's largest settlement San José Mogote, and a nearby settlement in the Etla Valley, lost most of their population.
During the same period, a new large settlement developed in the "no-man's-land" on top of a mountain overlooking the three valleys; it was later called Monte Albán.
Geography
The Central Valleys of Oaxaca, the cradle of Zapotec civilization, are three broad valleys—Etla in the west, Ocotlán in the south and Mitla in the east—that join at an altitude of about 4500 feet above sea level in the center of what today is the state of Oaxaca. They are located about 200 km south of Mexico City. Mountains surround the valley with The Sierra Norte in the north and the mountains of Tlacolula in the southeast. The environment is well suited for agriculture and is considered one of the cradles of maize. It is estimated that at the time of the emergence of Zapotec civilization, the valley soil were unaffected by the erosion seen today, as the oak and pine forests covering the surrounding mountains had not yet been decimated by logging.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Zapotec civilization (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Zapotec Civilization Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Zapotec Civilization appears, with the other states of the time.
Zapotec Civilization Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 69,768 km² in 556 CE.
Zapotec Civilization: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Zapotec Civilization exist?
Zapotec Civilization is dated to 500 BCE – 895 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Zapotec Civilization?
The capital of Zapotec Civilization was Monte Albán (700 BC – AD 700), Mitla (de facto) until 1400 (700–1400), Zaachila-Yoo (1400–1521).
How large was Zapotec Civilization at its peak?
At its peak in 556 AD Zapotec Civilization covered about 69,768 km².
How did the map of Zapotec Civilization change over time?
Zapotec Civilization appears on 12 dated world maps in the atlas, from 500 BCE to 750 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.