One of the first major cities in Mesoamerica was built by the Zapotecs

They established their city in the Oaxaca Valley in modern-day Mexico

The land was fertile, or great for planting crops

With plenty of rainfall and with its river nearby, growing crops was successful

These peoples grew maize (corn) and other crops

The Zapotec lived for hundreds of years in the Oaxaca Valley where they established farming villages

Soon, they built large temples with sculptures (1300 B.C.)

Eventually, half of the Zapotec people lived in the new capital (center of power) of San Jose Mogote

The Zapotec built a new center of power called Monte Alban, power shifted here around 500 B.C.

It sat high atop a mountain

The Oaxaca Valley lay below Monte Alban

The Zapotec flattened the top of the mountain to build Monte Alban

There were pyramids, palaces, and an astronomy observatory

This high center of power helped the Zapotec defend themselves from invaders

The Zapotec built artificial terraces built onto the mountainside to make more room for building and agriculture

Monte Alban was the center of the Zapotec civilization

They buried their wealthy in great tombs

The wealthy dead were buried with their gold and jewelry

Zapotec power began to fall around 750 A.D.

The  city disappeared around 900 A.D.

Just like the Olmec people, the Zapotec decline remains a mystery