Within the state of
Oaxaca, Mexico,
across from the Atoyac stream, lies a series of large hills. The largest of
these hills, reaching nearly 400 M above sea level, is the former capital city
Monte Alban ("White Mountains" in Spanish). Monte Alban, formerly called
Danibaan (sacred mountain), was built around 500 B.C. and occupied until 900
A.D.
The ceremonial city was planned and built for a defensive situation. This was accomplished by being located on a series of ridges. These ridges were located six miles from Oaxaca City. The artificially flattened hills that rose twelve hundred feet above the enclosing area, known as the Main Plaza, was the first settlement at Monte Alban. The mass construction of these structures began to join the mountains of Chico, El Gallo and Atzompa by a segment of bridges.
During the earliest occupations, Monte
Alban controlled an area anywhere from six to ten miles. This area included San
Augustin de las Juntas, Zaachila and Ocotlan. This area was designed for use as
a market center which took advantage of the trade routes. At the end of Monte
Alban I and at the start of Monte Alban II, it suffered a lack of power which
decreased it's population. But, there is evidence that a new population entered
Monte Alban from Chiapas or from regions of Guatemala.
Monte Alban went through three more stages which all show evidence of a different culture. This means that through these stages different population sources entered the city leaving archeological evidence through their drawings and different engineering practices used in their buildings. Monte Alban's last occupants, the Zapotec were forced out, probably due to the aggressions of the Aztec. The city was no longer a force in political or social progression. It was then abandoned, but remained a religious and burial site until A.D. 1521.
Illustrations of warfare can be illustrated by the
Danzantes (dancers) which
were carved into large stones. These figures symbolized slain enemy rulers and
leaders who had been captured and mutilated by the citizens of Monte Alban.
This ceremony was enacted to provide an offering to the gods so their crops
would be plentiful.
During the Post Classic Period, about 2500-5500 people occupied this
region. Most of the inhabitants did not live near the top of the hill, choosing
instead to live closer to the base, but still inside of the protective barrier
surrounding the city.
The city was famous for its military
strength, which supported itself economically, but soon agriculture bloomed and
enveloped the community. This rise in agriculture led to a rise in population
and may have been a reason for the decline of this massive powerhouse.
Resources became scarce and peoples were forced to move on in order to survive.
Another possible reason for its decline may have been corrupt administrators
who destroyed the economic system causing dispersal of much of the
population.
Monte Alban is famous for its attempt at basic calendars. The first was based on the agricultural season and the second based on the solar year. Both calendars had names for the months and days of their respective years and together they produced a time period of 52 years, the basic Mesoamerican cycle.
References
Blanton, Richard E.. Monte Alban; Settlement Patterns at the Ancient Zapotec Capital Calendars of Monte Alban. Academic Press
Sabloff, Jeremy A. The Cities Of Ancient Mexico. Thames and Hudson Inc 1989.
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