About Zapotec Civilization:
- The Zapotec civilization thrived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, characterized by its high elevation and reliance on irrigation from the Atoyac River and its tributaries.
- Emerging from hunter-gatherer societies, the Zapotecs transitioned to agriculture, developing skills in weaving, pottery, and stone masonry.
- By the Classic period (200 BCE-100 CE), they established a highly centralized state, with Monte Albán as their capital, featuring impressive public architecture and a distinct social hierarchy separating nobles from commoners.
- This society was marked by a professional priesthood and a state religion, where rituals included human sacrifice and complex ceremonies.
- The Zapotecs also innovated in calendar systems and writing, contributing to Mesoamerican culture.
- The Zapotec state was one of the earliest examples of centralized government in Mesoamerica.
