Zapotecs (500 B.C A.D.) The Zapotecs have lived in the Oaxaca Valley of Mexico since 500 B.C. and are still there today (Southern Mexico) Most ancient Zapotec history revolves around Monte Alban Heavily influenced by the Olmecs & had strong relations with the city of Teotihuacan Be’ena’a Za’a = Cloud People

The “Y” shaped valley is set on a wide and fertile plateau beneath these peaks and ridges at an altitude of about 1,300 ft above sea level The three arms of the valley are formed by smaller valleys: Etla Valley (north), Tlacolula Valley (east), & Zimantlan-Ocotlan Valley (south)

Monte Alban Monte Alban was planned as a ceremonial center or as a defense against invaders The Zapotec name for this site is Dani Biaa, which means “sacred mountain” The elite and the rest of the population were separated by walls At its peak, its population was about 35,000 people

Monte Alban

Monte Alban Ball Court To the left of the Great Plaza was the ball court, shaped like an “I” in which the Mesoamerican ball game was played Unlike other Mesoamerican courts, the Monte Alban court had no stone rings on its side walls, evidently they played a different ball game

Government & Economy The rulers at Monte Alban managed the farming operation of the valley By 200 B.C. Monte Alban developed into a aristocratic government The gap between the upper class and peasants was great Religion, government, and economy – all directed by a powerful group of elite ruler- priests

Religion The common people among the Zapotecs believed they had been born from nature itself, directly from rocks, trees, jaguars The elite believed they had descended from gods who reigned in the world beyond the clouds Most of the gods were associated either with farming or fertility Religion separated the spirit of living things from nonliving things

Elite Burial Chamber Zapotec elite were buried in extravagant ceremonies with many jewels, precious gems, and artwork because they believed the dead ancestors of their ruler-priest had supernatural ability to change the circumstances

Arts The Zapotecs used their arts to commemorate the living and also to accompany the dead to the afterlife Temple of Danzantes Stone Carvings Burial Chambers

Danzates Slabs These stone carvings adorned the walls, stairs, and doors of the Temple of Danzantes Primarily used to record the great feats & military victories of Zapotec rulers

Along with scenes of sacrifice victims, there are many depictions of the actual rulers dressed in extravagant costumes

Funerary Urn of Xipe Totec, the Flayed Lord Jaguar sculpture Zapotec Dishware Xipe Totec, god of sacrifice Sculpture

Language & Writing In present day Oaxaca, more than 400,000 people speak some form of the Zapotec language The language is tonal, the same word in a different tone will have a different meaning Glyphs Scholars believe their writing originated in an attempt to record and boast about their victories battles

Central Veracruz area became the focus of the Totonac civilization in the late 800 A.D. The area consisted of dry highlands and lush humid lowlands

Totonacs (1-900 A.D.) Resided in the Gulf Coast, mainly in what is now the state of Veracruz Its climate was hot and humid Their diet consisted of corn, squash, beans, turkey, frogs, fish They grew exported cacao, cotton, and vanilla System of government was theocratic

Architecture El Tajin was an elite communal, administrative, and religious ceremonial center that lasted 800 to 900 years Pyramid of the Niches was built around A.D. and faces due east Walls were constructed of a mixture of sand, seashells, and wood

Pyramid of the Niches Considered unique from other Mesoamerican pyramids Built around A.D. & faces due east, measures 246 ft on each side & is 190 ft. high Niches = window-like recessed panels, 365 niches & six horizontal lines which were originally painted red and blue

Ball Game = Tlatchli When this game originated is unknown Outcome of the game was controlled by the gods Priest used this game to predict the future The east side winning was a good omen since that is where the sun rises Wore protective gear

El Tajin Ball Court Stone Carving

Voladores The origins of the game is unknown The dance of Los Voladores alludes to the sun and calendar. Each flyer represents one of the yearly seasons. They make turns on the pole, which adds up to 52, which symbolizes the calendar cycle considered a century by the Mesoamericans.

Religion The Totonacs adopted various gods from other Mesoamerican societies their unique tribal god was “Xipe Totec”, the Flayed Lord, who was worshipped as the God of Harvest and Fertility Much of what is known about their religion was recorded by the Spanish such as Fray Bartolome de Las Casas

Hachas PalmasYokes Made of volcanic stone Represent heads of persons, birds, or other animals May have been markers for the ball game represents the leather & cotton breastplates worn over the chest Many are abstract but some depict sacrifices or ritual scenes Protective gear players would wear which were thick cotton padded belts These “U” shaped yokes were replicas made from green granite or diorite They could weigh 40 to 60 lbs

Beheading Panel at El Tajin Tablet from the Pyramid of the Niches

Laughing Figurines

Standing Figurine Seated Dignitary Sculpted Heads