Zapotec state (Monte Albán)

Zapotec state (Monte Albán) was a state in Gulf Coast and Oaxaca (Mesoamerica and Caribbean) that lasted from c. 500 BCE to 850 CE, about 1,349 years. Its people spoke Oto-Manguean languages (Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi).

Zapotec capital built on a flattened mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, with carved stones of slain captives called Danzantes. It held about 20,000 people before declining after 700.

See Zapotec state (Monte Albán) on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 500 BCE to 850 CE

Duration

1,349 years

Type

State

Region

Gulf Coast and Oaxaca, Mesoamerica and Caribbean

Language family

Oto-Manguean

Capital

Monte Albán

Came from

• San José Mogote c. 1500 to 500 BCE

Events in Mesoamerica and Caribbean during its time

• 500 BCE Monte Albán founded
• 32 BCE Early Long Count date at Tres Zapotes
• 200 Pyramid of the Sun completed
• 378 Teotihuacan intervenes at Tikal
• 695 Tikal defeats Calakmul
• 850 Classic Maya collapse

Neighbours in Mesoamerica and Caribbean

• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE
• Tikal (Mutal) c. 90 to 900 CE
• El Mirador c. 600 BCE to 150 CE
• Kaan kingdom (Calakmul) c. 400 to 900 CE
• Chichen Itza c. 750 to 1200 CE
• Cholula c. 300 BCE to 1519 CE
• Kaminaljuyu c. 800 BCE to 800 CE
• Zapotec city-states (Zaachila, Mitla) c. 850 to 1521 CE
• El Tajín (Classic Veracruz) c. 600 to 1200 CE
• Caracol 331 to 859 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia

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