The Zapotec Culture

The Zapotecs were located in Oaxaca, and they extended towards Veracruz, Chiapas and Guerrero, subtropical climate regions, with very fertile earth. The group of the Olmecs had occupied great centers of the valley of Oaxaca, until the settlers of these centers were united to form the Zapoteca Confederation, having as capital to Albán Mount. Later the mexicas conquered Albán Mount and the old inhabitants went to Mitla, Zaachila, Etla and Teotihuacan.then the Aztecs sacked Mitla, but the Zapotecs followed like an united and independent town, until the arrival of the Spaniards.
Government
The priests and kings showed the absolute power of this town, and were those that integrated the highest level of that society, followed the retailers, the craftsmen to them and finally the hunters, fishermen and agriculturists. The base of its economy was agriculture
Religion
The zapotecs were polytheists and zoolatrous, adored to many Gods and some animals. They respected to the dead to which they buried in ballot boxes with rich offerings. Its main or superior God was Xipe Totec, to who they considered creator of the other Gods and who represented a common figure all the precortesians indigenous religions. One imagined to him covered with a human skin and taking in the right hand "chicahuaztli" and in the left the head of victim or one rodela. This great civilization believed in numerous superstitions, among them the "nahualism" that consisted of having an animal whose destiny went united to the man. For that reason many children took animal names. The "nahual" was a wizard who in the nights took the form from animal for the practice of his badness. These wizards were feared for the damage that could cause. Its main religious center was Mount Albán, Mitla and Zaachila.
Agriculture
The base of its economy was agriculture, the artisan commerce and practiced the hunting, the fishing and the harvesting. Agriculture very was varied. Between the products that seeded was the maize, frijol, pumpkin, Chile, tomato and cacao, which watered by means of channels and drains. In hills terraces excavated slopes to form great steps of called earth, and with it to avoid the erosion of the ground and that rain took with himself to the fertile Earth. This form of sowing allowed them to obtain abundant harvests. The retailers took a cane like representation of their office. They used a copper currency in form of T. Sciences The Zapotecs were great sculptors constructors and, is enough to remember center the ceremonial Albán Mount, that later became urban center, in where the human figures in the walls of the Temple of the Dancers are seen, very similar to the figures that did Olmecs. In addition the Zapotecs emphasized by their knowledge of Arithmetic, astronomy and writing, and knew to handle the agricultural calendar perfectly. In the art, the architecture, the writing (hieroglyphic), the mathematics, and the astrology (calendars), the Zapotecs seem to have had cultural affinities with Olmecs, old the Mayans, and more ahead with the Toltecs.
Art
They worked the stone, especially in the decorative designs that abound in their architecture, also made bas-relief and the paintings murals that constitute some of the most precious fragments of the pre-Hispanic art of Mexico. They emphasize specially the designs of soldiers and captives, who indicate the importance of the conflicts in the society. It is possible to mention the denominated designs "dancing” which present/display personages in sacrifice attitude and submission. The architecture of the period finalde this culture characterizes by a profuse decoration mosaic type, lambda-type boards and.

Flora and fauna
We do not have information of the flora and fauna of those times, but as we know that the majority in Oaxaca lived: In the flora of Oaxaca we found oyamel, ocotero pine, ash, encino, juniper, ahuehuete, casuarina, framboyán, salvia, hinojo, mulato wood, thyme, huamuche, cazahuate, laurel, mangle, guayacán, palm of the Coco, fragmentation hand grenade and zapote. The main animals that there are in Oaxaca are: squirrel, hawk, eagle, opossum, deer, wild cat, armadillo, tzentzontle, finch, sparrow, calandria, tejón, raccoon, boa, mascot, pheasant, leopard, wild boar, to tapir, tigrillo, monkey spider, mazate, mojarra, smooth, guachinango, fish guard, gilded, carp, shrimp and lobster.
How to get there
Like arriving a: to Oaxaca By airplane the Airport the International of Oaxaca has air service with Houston in two daily flights, the city of Mexico, Acapulco, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Villahermosa, Mérida, Cancún, Escondido Port and HuatulcoAdemás, Oaxaca counts on the Airport the International of Huatulco and the National Airport of Escondido.Las Port following air lines fly to and from Oaxaca: Continental: (951) 503 3414 & 503 3415 Mexican: (951) 516,7352 & 516,8414 Aeromexico: (951)516.1066 & 516,3765 Aerotucan: (951) 501,0532 & 501,0530 Aviacsa: (951) 518,4555 & 518,4566 Aerocaribe: (951) 516,0229 & 516,0266 Avolar: Mexico 01 800 21-AVOLAR (286527), the USA 1 888 3-AVOLAR (286527) By bus the group I ACCEPT has different lines of buses: ONE (executive line) bus with 25 totally reclining seats, service of toilet, 5 television sets, supermarket of cafeteria and conditioned air. EXTRA (line of luxury) bus with 40 reclining seats, service of toilet, 5 television sets, supermarket of cafeteria and conditioned air. OCC ((first class)) bus with 44 reclining seats, service of toilet, 3 television sets and conditioned air. The SOUTH (economic class) bus with 40 seats, stereophonic music and conditioned air. We recommended the services to him of ONE or EXTRA. Extra.Por cost OCC is worth the trouble and the SOUTH can reserve to eliminate one hour and quarter before his salida.En ONE, GL, OCC, the SOUTH and EXTRA can buy its tickets with position to its credit card, with an additional cost by ticket, calling in the city from Mexico to telephone 5133,2424, and in the rear area to the 01.800.702.8000, every day of 7 11 a.m. to pmPuede to reserve tickets to or of Oaxaca in the Ticket service Bus on the telephone: 01.800.702.8000. By highway From the city of Mexico it takes highway XXX, are XXX kilometers and takes around five hours. From Puebla it takes highway 150, are 288 kilometers and takes around four hours. From Hidden Port it takes highway 175, are 182 kilometers and takes around seven hours. From Huatulco it takes highway 175, are 169 kilometers and takes around six hours. From San Cristobal of the Houses it takes highway XXX, are XXX kilometers and takes around XXX hours. to Veracruz By air, the Airport the General International Heriberto Rockrose Crown of Veracruz, receives direct domestic flights of main the cities Mexican, like Monterrey (State Capital again Leon), Villahermosa (State Capital of Tabasco), Mérida (State Capital of Mérida), Cancún (been of Quintana Roo), Mexico DF (capital of the country), Tampico (State Capital of Tamaulipas), Oaxaca (State Capital of Oaxaca) and Huatulco (been of Oaxaca).En the facilities of the international airport, the traveller will find the following services: rent of automobiles, taxis authorized, public parking, tourist information, reserve of hotels, restaurant, snack-bar, stores of crafts and agencies bancarias.Además of the Heriberto airport Rockrose, in the state of Veracruz are two national aerial terminals: The Tajín, in the municipality of Tihuatlán, near the city of Rich Poza; and, Canticas, in the region Coatzacoalcos-Cosoleacaque- Minatitlán. Additionally, 31 aerodromes exist. By earth, from the city of Mexico, the capital of the country, the routes Mexico-Puebla-Xalapa or Mexico-Orizaba-Veracruz can be taken. The trip in automobile lasts 4 hours, approximately. Before the motorized passage, it reviews his vehicle. It is recommended not to handle of noche.Si you you do not have a vehicle, decides on the omnibus that covers the route. The transport companies offer to their fleeting economic services and of first class. In Mexico DF it is necessary to approach the units that leave from the Terminal of Buses of Passengers of East (I COVER), located in the street Zaragoza 200. to Guerrero By Airplane the state of Guerrero counts on the Airport the International, "General Juan N. A'lvarez," is located near the city of Acapulco, to 30 minutes on the Scenic Highway. By Bus Of the City of Mexico Gold Star can arrive by the Buses of the line, or by Group White Star; both companies have destinies to Altamirano, Taxco, Equals, Chilpancingo, Acapulco, Ixtapa - Zihuatanejo. Gupo White Star in addition has cover to Teloloapan, Arcelia, Atoyac de Alvarez, Red Earth, Ometepec, Cuajinicuilapa, Tlapehuala and Petatlán. By Highway Of the City of Cuernavaca it has 3 options to arrive at the state of Guerrero: by the Free Highway, the Federal Highway (95) or by the Freeway of the Sun; these two you complete cross our organization until the City of Acapulco. From the City Lazaro Cardenas it can take the Federal Highway (200) that closely together crosses our state of the coast, until arriving at Oaxaca By Sea the city of Acapulco counts on a port. Local Transport. Within the state multiple organizations of carriers with an ample rural and urban cover already exist To Chiapas The state of Chiapas can be arrived and by air terrestrial. From Mexico DF a highway in good state exists that leads to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital chiapanese. It looks for greater comfort, approach some of the flights that land in the local airport. By air, the National Airport of Terán de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, State Capital of Chiapas, receives originating flights of Mexico DF. The trip lasts so single one hour with 20 minutes. Of earth, the State Capital of Chiapas, Tutxla Gutiérrez, is in favor to 1.080 kilometers of Mexico DF. The hard trip around 14 hours and the price of the ticket in omnibus are of 40 dollars, approximately. The units, in their great majority, are equipped with conditioned air, hygienic television and services. In Mexico, the buses leave from the Terminal of Buses the West East (I COVER), located in Road Ignacio Zaragoza 200, Colony 10 of May, telephone (52) 5762-5983. If you think to rent a car or to go in its own vehicle, must take the Pan-American highway (well-known also like 190). It is recommended to lead by day, because in the nights the powerboats usually are closed and is very difficult to find mechanical service in the zone.