Monte Alban was the capital of an empire that ruled all of Oaxaca and parts of Guerrero. It is one of the most important and recognized archaeological sites in Oaxaca and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here I tell you all about this majestic archaeological site.
WHERE DOES THE NAME OF MONTE ALBÁN COME FROM?
Its prehispanic name remains unknown and the actual name is believed that comes from a soldier that owned that land in the XVI century. The last name of the soldier is believed to be Montalbán or Monte Albán.
The Mixtec name of the city is Yucucuy that means Green Mountain. And Zapotec is Daniva that means Sacred Mountain.
WHEN DID MONTE ALBÁN ARISE?
Monte Albán archaeological site is not only the principal plaza. This complex covers 3 mountains: The Atzompa zone, El Gallo, and the mountain where the principal plaza is located.
We are going to take the origin of Monte Albán since the moment when the people started to move to this zones. This was in the Middle Pre-Classic (1000 to 500 years b.C.). Some people that lived in Central Valleys started to move to this mountains and started to stay here.
The first settlements occurred between the 500 and 100 b.C. and were located close to the natural resources( water, dense vegetation, ).
The architecture of this sites was made of materials like, wood and straw, and then of adobe, rock, etc… But I will tell you about the architecture in other post.
Before we continue, I want to invite you to visit Monte Albán with us.
WHO OCCUPIED MONTE ALBÁN?
Like all Oaxaca, Monte Albán is a multicultural city that in different times was occupied by different cultures.
The culture that founded this city was the zapotec that thanks to the military power that had it went extending over a lot of populations and like that obtaining more people to work and expand the constructions. The maximum population that had was 35 000 inhabitants.
In the pre-classic the zapotecs didn’t use Monte Albán any more, the mixtecs influenced the region and used Monte Albán, reusing the site and even the tombs.
WHAT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT DID MONTE ALBAN HAVE?
Monte Alban was the first state system in Mesoamerica had a hierarchical organization, there were kings and priests who organized the population to maintain trade with other regions and self-sufficiency to survive.
The system probably arose from the time when the Zapotecs lived in villages and evolved to give it a religious significance.
It was believed that the rulers were instructed by the gods and could communicate with them, this led the people to listen to them and help build the imposing city, but not all the people who built the city came from areas that already dominated the Zapotec culture but the military power of this Zapotec city was also great, thanks to this they expanded their control through conquests and alliances, from these conquests came many people who built the city among other things.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF MONTE ALBAN
Oaxaca’s most impressive city of antiquity has an incredible architecture, do you want to know it?
The earliest houses were of simple materials, and stone tombs. The social classes were appearing and with this the leaders of the village.
Zapotec expansion began and as a consequence more people for public works were obtained. The construction of the city began.
In the beginnings of this ancient city, many stones known as “dancers” were carved.
New buildings arose in the period from 100 B.C. to 200 A.D., in addition to new buildings, some were modified.
New elements such as niches also arrived in this city.
The largest and most important buildings of the city were destined for ceremonial, public or residential activities and were occupied by the elites of the time of the Zapotec culture.
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