History of the Zapotec

By: Stella Cherise and Breon

When Dominant/important dates

• Around 1400 B.C.– One of the fist Meso-americans to build ritual

buildings made of plaster

• 800 B.C.-1600 A.D– Largest group in Ozaka

• 200-250 B.C. – Military use or writing reached a new height

• 700-500 B.C– Developed a writing system with hieroglyphs

• 500 B.C– Created the first North American first full

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When Dominant/Important Dates

• 200-250 B.C. – Military use of writing reached a new

height

• 300B.C-700 A.D– Capital at Monte Alban

• 600-900 A.D.– Reached zenith

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RELIGION

Zapotec Gods & GoddessesZapotec Gods & GoddessesCocijo – The god of rainCocijo – The god of rainCozibo – The god of Sun and War fareCozibo – The god of Sun and War farePecala – The god of Love, Dreams, ExcessesPecala – The god of Love, Dreams, Excesses

•The religion of the Zapotec was a mix of roman catholic The religion of the Zapotec was a mix of roman catholic and Christianity.and Christianity.They believed that they were born out of rocks, trees, and They believed that they were born out of rocks, trees, and jaguars.jaguars.•A priest made religious rites. And sometimes they had A priest made religious rites. And sometimes they had human sacrifices.human sacrifices. The Zapotecs along with worshipping gods they The Zapotecs along with worshipping gods they worshipped their ancestors, and believed in an underworld.worshipped their ancestors, and believed in an underworld.•Zapotec Religion might have led to pre-hispanic religionZapotec Religion might have led to pre-hispanic religionTheir tombs were elaborate, underground rooms which Their tombs were elaborate, underground rooms which were made by artisans. Over the doorways were pottery were made by artisans. Over the doorways were pottery urns that had gods on them, which were thought of as the urns that had gods on them, which were thought of as the guardians of the dead. guardians of the dead.

A common urn A common urn represented represented Cocijo, the Cocijo, the Rain GodRain God

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Zapotec Religion

• The bodies were laid on the floor and covered in The bodies were laid on the floor and covered in decorated fabrics and other materials.decorated fabrics and other materials.

• there were symbols painted on the walls there were symbols painted on the walls showing that the body belonged to priests and showing that the body belonged to priests and gods.gods.

• Within the chambers were found ear ornaments, Within the chambers were found ear ornaments, figurines, pebbles carved in the shape of heads, figurines, pebbles carved in the shape of heads, and mosaics and other wall decorations made of and mosaics and other wall decorations made of pieces of jade and other stones placed in stucco.pieces of jade and other stones placed in stucco.

• On the hills surrounding Monte Alban and On the hills surrounding Monte Alban and Zapotec, simple burials and tombs were placed, Zapotec, simple burials and tombs were placed, which indicates that they belonged to people of which indicates that they belonged to people of not as wealthy class.not as wealthy class.

AAGGRRIICCUULLTTUURREE

• Zapotec society is Zapotec society is arranged around central arranged around central villages or towns which villages or towns which has an agricultural base. has an agricultural base.

• They did some hunting, They did some hunting, fishing, and gathering of fishing, and gathering of wild foods. wild foods.

• Agriculture is based on Agriculture is based on ‘slash-and-burn’ to clear ‘slash-and-burn’ to clear land, along with plow and land, along with plow and oxen which were used in oxen which were used in cultivation. cultivation.

• There was a big soil There was a big soil erosion problem, so they erosion problem, so they built terraces to keep the built terraces to keep the soil from eroding soil from eroding

• Farmers grew their crops Farmers grew their crops in deeper soilin deeper soil

““agricultural city-dwelling people”agricultural city-dwelling people”

The main The main plants grown plants grown were corn, were corn, beans, squash, beans, squash, herbs, flowers herbs, flowers and fruit trees and fruit trees coffee, wheat, coffee, wheat, and sugarcaneand sugarcane

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Weakness/Downfall

• They didn’t have a strong military power– The Mixtec invaded

• The civilization fell from the use of military power by

• They traveled to a new location where under control by the Aztec– They had many rebellions while under

the rule of the Aztec– Later came to be ruled by the Spanish

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Strengths

• They were very good negotiators which allowed them to trade in a better way

• Advanced culture• They built advanced houses

– Lived in large villages– Houses constructed with stone and mortar

• Number system – The number system allowed them to count

• Able to use their knowledge of science – Create a calendar

• Religious ceremonies• Record historic dates• Know when there were going to be eclipses

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Zapotec political Organization

• The Zapotec community was divided into three groups; kings ,priests, nobles. Becoming a king or a priest was inherited.

• The Chief was the supreme head.• Since kings, priests, and nobles were the

highest in the status they live inside the city.

• Kings and priests were buried in tombs in Monte Alban, Zapotec capital.

• Zapotec’s greatest king was Cosijoeza.

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Zapotec political Organization

Merchants were in the middle level of status. They had certain privileges that the underclassmen didn’t get.

• The underclassman included artisans, peasants, hunters, and fisherman.

• Middle and underclassmen lived on hillsides and in dwellings made of perishable material.

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Zapotec Art

• The Zapotecs mastered art. • Sculpture were dedicated to the

gods and important rulers. • Funerary urns that they made

were placed at the entrance of a tomb to protect the burial.

• Many tombs were painted with gods and past rulers.

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Zapotec Art

• Necklaces were made out of gold.• Bowls were made out of alabaster.• They also carved carving in jade. • For fishing they made nets and

fishhooks out of fish bone.

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Zapotec Trade

• The major trading items were crops, pottery, jewelry, and carvings.

• The Zapotec’s used a marketplace system. Maize, maguey, coconuts, bananas, coffee, and mangoes were cash crops, easily marketable.

• Trade routes went through out Oaxaca.

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Zapotec Trade

• Not only would they trade goods but they would trade ideas.

• They would trade ideas about their writing system and calendar.

• They were also skilled negotiators.

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Culture.http://www.everyculture.com/Middle-America-Caribbean/Zapotec-Economy.html

• “Oaxaca.” All Empires. All Empires Online History Community. http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=Oaxaca

• “Zapotec.” Zapotec. Native Americans. http://www.nativeamericans.com/Zapotec.htm

• Simon, Kate. Mexico: Places and Pleasures. Cleveland and New York: The World Company, 1962. 9-447.

• Burland, C.a. The Gods of Mexico. New York: First American Edition, 1967. 3-219.

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• "Zapotec." Ancienct Scripts. 6 Oct. 2007 http://www.ancientscripts.com/zapotec.html

• "Zapotec Civilization." Wikipedia. 5 Oct. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapotec_civilization

• "Zapotec Culture." World History: Ancient and Medival Era. 7 Oct. 2007 http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/library/searches/searchdisplay.aspx?entryid=601301&fulltext=zapotec&nav=non&specialtopicid=-1

• "Zapotec." MSN Encarta. 7 Oct. 2007 http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761587519/Zapotec.html

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• "Classic Period." The Zapotecs, Mesamerica. 6 Oct. 2007 http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/pages_kids/history/mesoamerica/zapo_kids.html

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