Zapotec civilization

Zapotec Civilization Be'ena'a (Zapotec)
c. 700 BCE–1521 CE
The Zapotec Civilization at its greatest extent
Status	Zapotec–Mixtec Alliance
Capital	Monte Albán (700 BC – 700 AD) Mitla (700–1400 AD) Zaachila-Yoo (1400–1521 AD)
Common languages	Zapotec languages
Religion	Polytheistic
Government	Hereditary monarchy
Monarch
• 1328–1361	Ozomatli
• 1361–1386	Huijatoo
• 1386–1415	Zaachila I
• 1415–1454	Zaachila II
• 1454–1487	Zaachila III
• 1487–1521	Cosijoeza
• 1518–1563	Cocijopij
Historical era	Pre-classic – Late post-classic
• Fall of San José Mogote	c. 700 BCE
• Conflict between Zapotecs and Mixtecs in the empire	1519–1521
• Spanish Conquest	1521 CE
• Last Zapotec resistance	1521–1563
Succeeded by New Spain
Today part of	Mexico  • Oaxaca

The Zapotec civilization (Be'ena'a (Zapotec) "The People"; c. 700 BC–1521 AD) was an indigenous pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in Mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence shows that their culture originated at least 2,500 years ago. The Zapotec archaeological site at the ancient city of Monte Albán has monumental buildings, ball courts, magnificent tombs and grave goods, including finely worked gold jewelry. Monte Albán was one of the first major cities in Mesoamerica. It was the center of a Zapotec state that dominated much of the territory which today is known as the Mexican state of Oaxaca.