The Zapotec were an indigenous, MesoAmerican society that lived in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern México. Dating back to around 500 BCE, their civilization was centered in the ancient city of Monte Albán, one of the oldest cities in MesoAmerica.

Amongst their achievements, the Zapotec developed a calendar, as well as a system of writing that used glyphs (picture characters) to represent each syllable of their language. This system of writing is thought to be one of the oldest in MesoAmerica. Their religion was polytheistic, much like surrounding tribes, and archaeologists believe the Zapotec participated in ritual human sacrifice as well.

The tribe saw its defeat by the Spaniards in the early 1500s; however, they took part in uprisings against the new colonial powers over then next 200 years. Modern descendants of the Zapotec still live in Oaxaca today.

© ProjectExplorer.org, 2010.
Text by Maisie Bornstein & Lindsay Clark.
Painted ceramic urn from Monte Albánapotec, photo by Luis Garcia.