People / group
Zapotec civilization
The Zapotec civilization arose in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, where from about 500 BCE Monte Albán became one of the first cities and states of Mesoamerica. The Zapotecs developed one of the earliest writing systems in the Americas, built temple and palace complexes and buried their nobles in painted tombs. After Monte Albán declined they lived in smaller kingdoms such as Zaachila, Mitla and Tehuantepec, and Zapotec languages are still spoken today.
Mentioned in 4 state histories
See also
Cite this entry
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Zapotec civilization. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/zapotec-civilization
- MLA
- “Zapotec civilization.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/zapotec-civilization. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Zapotec civilization.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/zapotec-civilization.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Zapotec civilization’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/zapotec-civilization (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻