Travel Guide Monte Albán

Located at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters in the Oaxaca Valley, Monte Alban was the capital of the Zapotec civilization for several centuries. The site was developed in five major stages over a period of 2,000 years, starting with the beginning of the occupation of the Oaxaca Valley (1000-300 BC). As in all cities, new buildings were erected on the old foundations. Thus, Monte Alban I (500 B.C.E. -100 B.C.E.) was followed by Monte Alban II (100 B.C.E. - 250 A.D.) and Monte Alban III (250-800 A.D.), during which time the Zapotecs built most of the buildings that can be seen today in the Gran Plaza. Monte Albán IV (800-1325) corresponds to the decline of the site: the number of inhabitants in Monte Albán decreased drastically, as new urban centers arose in the neighboring valleys, which controlled smaller territories (including Yagul and Lambityeco, near Tlacolula). The region was then in the grip of the expansion of the Mixtecs, who invested their authority during the fifth period (1325-1521), mainly in order to carry out funeral rites and religious ceremonies. When the conquistadors arrived in the Oaxaca Valley in 1521, the ancient Zapotec capital had already been abandoned.