User:Noel.salvador/sandbox

Although several theories of the origin of the Zapotec peoples exist, including some possibly influenced in the post-conquest period, scholars largely agree the Zapotecs inhabited the Central Valley of Oaxaca as early as 100 B.C. during what is considered the Monte Alban I period. (Whitecotton 25) The Monte Alban periods, of which five have been categorized, lasted from 100 B.C. to the time of the conquest at 1521 A.D. Yet archaeological evidence from the site of Monte Alban has revealed settlement of the region as far back as 1150 B.C. Through these discoveries, scholars have been able to correlate with the Formative, Classic, and post-Classic periods of civilization in the region with the greater Mesoamerican history. The Formative stage, from 100 B.C. to 200 A.D of which the periods of Monte Alban I and II are attributed to, is characterized by a shift to sedentary settlements and the practice of agriculture for subsistence. From 200 - 900 A.D. in the Monte Alban III period, the Classic stage witnessed the rise of social and political structures in the Zapotec civilization. This period also saw a surge in religious activity within the state leadership of the society. Later, during the “Militaristic stage” of Monte Alban IV to V (900 - 1521 A.D.), a rise in military influence common among Mesoamerican societies led states to become mired in warfare and “cults of war.” Noel.salvador (talk) 20:38, 7 April 2017 (UTC)

From the Colonial period, towns adopted the Spanish cabildo model of governance in which officers were elected and rotated. Among the offices were alcaldes who served as judges or arbiters of local disputes and regidores who served as councilors for developing legislation.The Gobernador was the highest office in the colonial period within the indigenous communities and office was typically held by a wealthy cacique, members of the local nobility. Later, in the period of La Reforma, under President Benito Juarez, with his push towards liberalism and agrarian reform, the cabildos was replaced with the municipio model in which regions were divided into districts and its representatives would be appointed by the state governor. Noel.salvador (talk) 00:10, 24 April 2017 (UTC)

At the time of the Spanish conquest of the New World, church and state were not separate in Zapotec society. In fact, the Zapotec lord was given religious training as a requirement of his assumption of power. There were large temples built called yo hopèe, the house of the vital force, in which the priests performed religious rites. The priests, who were mostly selected from the nobility, were also provided their religious training before taking a position among the religious hierarchy. Commoners were also selected and trained to join the priesthood, but they were only allowed to join the lower ranks. The highest position was held by the uija-tào, great seer, who did not live in Monte Alban but rather in the sub valley area of Mitla. As the high priest of the religion Spanish conquistadors likened him to the Pope of the Catholic church. Noel.salvador (talk) 03:34, 26 April 2017 (UTC)