Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Zaachila (Zapotecas)
Zaachila (Zapotecas)
Zaachila was founded by the Zapotecs, probably at the time when the construction
of Monte Albán also began and the village of San José Mogote was flourishing.
Although there are few remains of the ancient Zapotec site that have survived to
this day, they allow us to observe that Zaachila was a population that also played an
important role during the Classic Period of the Zapotec culture. Witness to this are
the two tombs that are part of the city, built in a similar way to those that were built
during the time of greatest bloom of the city of Monte Albán. Zaachila was founded
around the 13th century after Christ. Comprised in the post-classic period and after
the decline of Monte Albán as a city and Zapotec capital. "In Zaachila, the most
famous Zapotec king, Cosijoeza, famous for his expansionist campaigns and for
being in charge of facing a stronger rival, the Mixtecos, who subsequently
appropriated somehow a large part of Zapotec territory, and which greatly
influenced all the Central Valleys.
El territorio de los zapotecas fue considerado como sensible desde que la frontera de los
mixtecas comenzó a estar cerca. Otra de las amenazas fueron los aztecas quienes se habían
iniciado en obtener el control de la ruta comercial perteneciente al Itsmo de Tehuantepec, por
lo que la ciudad de Zaachila se convirtió en un factor importante para la defensa de los
territorios zapotecas
The territory of the Zapotec was considered sensitive since the Mixtec frontier
began to be close. Another threat was the Aztecs who had begun to gain control of
the commercial route belonging to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, so the city of
Zaachila became an important factor for the defense of Zapotec territories.
Los zapotecas desarrollaron una agricultura muy variada. Ellos cultivaron varias especies
de chile, fresa, calabaza, cacao y, el más importante de todos: el maíz que a principios del
periodo clásico daba sustento a numerosas aldeas. Para tener buenas cosechas rendían culto
al sol, la lluvia, la tierra y el maíz.
The Zapotecs developed a diverse agriculture. They cultivated several species of
chile, strawberry, pumpkin, cocoa and, the most important of all: the corn that at the
beginning of the classic period gave sustenance to numerous villages. To have
good harvests they worshiped the sun, the rain, the earth and the corn.
Las mujeres y hombres del pueblo, que vivían en las aldeas, estaban obligados a entregar
como tributo: el maíz, los guajolotes, la miel y el frijol. Además de agricultores los zapotecos
destacaron como tejedores y alfareros. Son famosas las urnas funerarias zapotecas que eran
vasijas de barro que se colocaban en las tumbas. Los zapotecos alcanzaron un elevado nivel
cultural y fueron, junto con los mayas, el único pueblo de la época que desarrolló un sistema
completo de escritura. Por medio de jeroglíficos y otros símbolos grabados en piedra o
pintados en los edificios y tumbas, combinan la representación de ideas y sonidos.
The women and men of the village, who lived in the villages, were obliged to pay
tribute: corn, turkeys, honey and beans. In addition to farmers, the Zapotecs stood
out as weavers and potters. Famous are the Zapotec funeral urns that were clay
pots that were placed in the tombs. The Zapotec reached a high cultural level and
were, along with the Mayans, the only people of the time who developed a complete
writing system. By means of hieroglyphs and other symbols engraved in stone or
painted on buildings and tombs, they combine the representation of ideas and
sounds.