Zapotec Civilization: 200 BCE Through 600 CE

Zapotec Civilization was mostly relevant during 200 BCE through 600 CE. This civilization was commonly known as “cloud people”. The area they lived in was South Mexico or mesoamerica, the valley of Oaxaca . One of the largest indigenous groups in the mexican state of Oaxaca, was the Zapotecs. They inhabited four main areas of Oaxaca. Those four main areas were Central Valley, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Sierra region in the North, and Southern Coastal Mountain area, Sierra de Miahuatlan.

Religious Beliefs Zapotecs had were, first they were catholic. Supernaturals such as witches, and both gender devils were viewed. At birth, each person gets his or her Tono, an animal guardian (eg, mountain lion.) People that are unbaptized risk becoming a nahual.
Women are midwives, and men mend bones. Zapotecs believed you go ill because of improper religious conduct, envy, soul loss, anger, evil eyes, and witchcraft. Ordinary death and sudden violent death are distinguished. They believe deceased souls do not make it to heaven. The death ritual for unmarried and married people are distincted. Most civilizations believed in deities, or gods. Zapotecs did have one god they thought was most important, this god was Cocijo. Or the lightning and rain god. The Cocijo god was believed to have created the universe with his breathe. They have many other gods, for example, sun and war god Copijcha. Though some cities of Zapotec community had separate deities.

The social control of the Zapotecs were a variety of formal and informal controls. Disputes brought before the district or local authorities have the ability to imprison and fine the people that did bad things. Internalization of ideas, respect, cooperation, and responsibility, were an informal mechanism. Zapotec reflected the importance of respect. A former mexican president, Benito Juarez, who was a zapotec, thought respect was very important. “Respect for the rights of others is peace,” Benito
But they did have nine separate, mutually unintelligible zapotec languages. One in Isthmus, four in northern sierra, three in southern sierra de miahuatlan, and one in central valley.

Mainly temples, compounds, and courts of Monte Alban and Mitla, were evident architectural achievements. But serape weavings, pottery, and other crafts are arts some Zapotec towns are renowned for. They also made underground tombs. Stone carvings were a popular art used to record military victories and great feats of Zapotec rulers. The glyphs on the stone carvings represent leaders achievements. Zapotecs would use either writing or pictures to represent ideas.

A cargo system was their political organization. Citizens elected to fill in positions in a cargo system. Though it was hierarchically arranged, which is age graded religious and political posts. In the cargo system variation exists, but it's consistently present in Zapotec communities. Posts include judge, mayor, and other officials such as police captain and treasurer. Isthmus Zapotec women in particular wield considerable political