Mexico Travel Mexico News Mexico Destination Guide Contact Us

Mexico Travel :: State of Oaxaca

The first settlements with a clear social hierarchy began to appear in the Valley of Oaxaca between 1150 and 850 BC. Around 500 BC, a hilltop at the junction of the valley's three arms was levelled off, and construction began on the Zapotec city of Monte Alban, one of the most long-lived of the major pre-Columbian cities. The exterior of one of the first temples was lined with a series of bas-reliefs called the Danzantes ('Dancers'), which may actually represent dead and mutilated captive chiefs. These reliefs also contain hieroglyphic texts that represent the earliest known dates marked in the 52-year calendar system. Archeologists believe that the Zapotecs invented this system, which was used by all the great Mesoameriean cultures to the end of the Classic era (AD 900). The Zapotec state also included cities like Yagul, Zaachila and Teotitlan. Before its abandonment around AD 700, Monte Alban had a population of 25,000 and covered 6.5 square kilometers (2.5 square miles). In the centuries that followed the Zapotec collapse, the Mixtec tribes of northwestern Oaxaca began to develop and reach beyond their mountainous homeland. The Mixtec history is chronicled in eight codices (folding paper books) that tell of the linking of the Mixtecs with the remains of the Zapotec nobility through intermarriage and the gradual Mixtec takeover of Zapotec cities.

In the 15th century, the Aztecs made repeated attempts to conquer Oaxaca but were themselves overthrown before they could accomplish this. Cortes was tantalized by tales of Oaxaca's wealth and sent an expedition led by Luis Marin to the south; the Zapotecs and Mixtecs successfully repelled him. While Cortes was away in Spain being dubbed Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca, his rivals conquered the state and founded the Villa de Antequera de Oaxyacan in the valley east of Monte Alban. The Dominicans arrived and built monasteries there and in the northwestern mountains. Until Acapulco opened in 1578, the little harbor of Huatulco was the principal Mexican port for trade to Peru and Central America. The Spanish divided Oaxaca into huge encomiendas, and the majority of Indians died from disease and overwork in mines, sugar plantations and estates. A 1570 Indian rebellion was violently crushed.

Nevertheless, in 1800 Oaxaca was still predominately Indian, and 20 languages and many more dialects were spoken here. In 1810, dozens of conspirators were shot before they could take arms against the royalist government, Jose Maria Morelos' army captured Oaxaca in 1812, but the royalists returned the favor in 1815. In 1848, a liberal lawyer of Zapotec Indian descent named Benito Juarez became governor; his term was marked by economic progress, political order, public works and school construction. One of his allies was a young local officer named Porfirio Diaz (who later turned against him). Juarez went on to become president, and his stern, Lincolnesque figure dominated Mexican politics for two decades. Oaxaca was isolated from the main movements of the Revolution. Today, Oaxaca is occasionally torn by violence erupting from land tenure disputes, whose foundations were laid by the 16th-century Spanish administration.

Featured Mexico Travel Destinations

Playa del Amante: Cabo San Lucas

Playa del Amante Playa del Amante/Lover's Beach West of downtown Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Attraction Type: Monuments and Landmarks

Mexico Industrial Output Probably Rose 3.9 Percent in November

Mexico Industrial Output Probably Rose 3.9 Percent in November Mexico's industrial output probably grew at its fastest pace in seven months in November, led by

Casa Vieja: Guadalajara

Casa Vieja: Guadalajara We are in process of collecting information about this sight....

Equity Strategists: Morgan Stanley Raises Brazil, Cuts Mexico

Morgan Stanley raised its weighting to Brazilian stocks as the prospect of lower local interest rates will increase investors' appetite for equities. Higher than average

Mexico's presidential race marked by mudslinging

Mexico's presidential race marked by mudslinging Campaign seen as test of democratic progress The race for Mexico's presidency has featured mudslinging, backstabbing, revelations of a questionably obtained

El Sagrario: Mexico City

El Sagrario: Mexico City

Forest fire damages Yucatan ruins in Mexico

Forest fire damages Yucatan ruins in Mexico Forest fire in Mexico has charred 5,800 hectares in the state of Yucatan on Mexicos Caribbean coast, damaging the

Project Mexico auction planned for Wednesday

Project Mexico auction planned for Wednesday Project Mexico will be holding its annual auction tomorrow, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in McGuire Hall, with all

Museo Rufino Tamayo (Museum) : Mexico City

Museo Rufino Tamayo (Museum) : Mexico City

Mexico hopes to rid country of bird flu by end of 2006

Mexico hopes to rid country of bird flu by end of 2006 Mexico hopes to be able to declare all 31 states and the capital free

© Mexico Travelers About Us :: Advertise with Us :: Copyright and Privacy Policy :: Contact Us Powered by: Travel to World
  Site Design and Developer : MAAS InfoMedia