- Political organization of the Zapotecs
- Social organization
- Marriage
- Patriarchy
- The family
- Heritage
- Social division
- Religion
- Ceremonies
- References
The political and social organization of the Zapotecs was closely related to religion, economy, and social organization. The Zapotecs are the largest aboriginal group in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, which have existed since the pre-Hispanic period.
The term " Zapotecs " derives from Nahualt, the original language of the Aztecs, which has survived to this day thanks to the small aboriginal groups that still speak it. In Náhualt, the term is tsapotecatl, which refers to the fruit known in Mexico as zapote, which gives these aborigines their name.
Monte Alban
Before the discovery of America, this aboriginal community managed to establish a developed state. In fact, the ruins of Monte Albán, Mitla and Yagul reveal the existence of an advanced Zapotec society prior to the arrival of the Spanish.
However, from the 16th century on, Europeans invaded the Zapotec territories to extract natural wealth. Despite this, this community was not as affected as others (the Mayans and Aztecs, for example) in which the Spanish invasion had a more military character.
Next, some characteristics of the political and social organization of this aboriginal group are presented, making reference to both pre-Hispanic and contemporary elements.
Political organization of the Zapotecs
The policy of the Zapotecs, like that of other Mesoamerican cultures, was based on the development of wars that allowed them to gain new territories. Also, through these wars, they captured enemies who would later be subjected to sacrifices in religious ceremonies.
Between the years 300 and 900, the politics of the Zapotecs revolved around Monte Albán, the metropolis where all the state organizations were located.
Between the years 900 and 1400, the Zapotecs organized themselves into city-states that competed with each other, favoring the progress of the community.
With the arrival of the Spanish, the Zapotec territories were invaded; Despite this, they managed to maintain their autonomy relatively.
Currently, the political organization of the Zapotecs is based on the cargo system. Positions are positions in the government (judges, officials, mayors) that can be filled by any competent citizen, male or female (although women are rarely chosen for these positions).
Social organization
Marriage
Zapotec communities practice inbreeding, which means that members of a family group marry other members of the same family group, although it is not prohibited to form a family with members of other families.
They distinguish two types of marriages: the free union, which follows the common law of the Zapotecs, and the marriage by the Catholic Church. Divorce is prohibited by the Church, but sometimes couples simply separate and freely join other individuals.
Patriarchy
The Zapotec communities are organized through the patriarchy system, which means that the center of the community is man. Very few tribes organize in a matriarchal way.
The family
The Zapotecs favor extended families (made up of parents, children, grandparents, uncles, and cousins) over nuclear families. In the event that a family is nuclear (composed only of parents and children), it usually lives close to the rest of the family.
Heritage
The Zapotec rule is that in case of the death of the parents, the inheritance is divided equally among all the children.
However, it is often the case that the youngest child benefits more than the other children, due to the fact that they were still living with their parents when they passed away.
Added to this, male offspring usually inherit more assets than female offspring, since it is a patriarchal society.
On the other hand, land can be inherited even before the death of the parents: when one of the children marries and when the parents are so old that they cannot work the land.
Social division
Zapotec society is divided into three groups: the common people, the priests, and the nobility.
Each of the Zapotec communities has a chief or group head who is in charge of controlling the affairs of his tribe.
Religion
The Zapotecs of the pre-Hispanic period considered that the universe was surrounded by four elements, each one of a specific color and with certain supernatural attributes.
Likewise, the Zapotecs associated the gods with natural elements, such as the sun, rain, and tides, among others. Furthermore, in this period, time was considered to be cyclical and non-linear.
At present, the Zapotecs partially follow Catholic doctrine, which has been syncretized with pre-Hispanic beliefs.
The current beliefs of the Zapotecs include:
- The veneration of Jesus Christ (both the child and the adult).
- The belief in guardian animals (called tones). During birth, each person acquires a tone, which can be any creature; it is considered that this creature gives the individual part of its natural characteristics (strength, speed, agility, intelligence, among others).
- The existence of witches and witches and demons with male and female forms.
In addition to Catholic priests, Zapotec societies have certain priests who are in charge of guiding spiritual rituals.
These priests are called "sorcerers" and are in charge of directing ceremonies, such as: marriages, funerals, baptisms, moving to a new home, spiritual cleansings, among others.
Ceremonies
The Zapotecs of the pre-Hispanic period performed a series of rituals that were intended to please the gods.
These ceremonies included blood offerings and human and animal sacrifices. Often, captured warriors from other tribes were offered in exchange for the favor of the gods to obtain good crops, to end the period of drought, among others.
Today's Zapotec ceremonies lean more towards events that are part of the cycle of life, such as baptisms, communions, weddings, and funerals.
Two of the most important ceremonies are the one that takes place on All Saints' Day and the one that takes place on the day of the Patron Saint of each community.
References
- Zapotec facts, information, pictures. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from encyclopedia.com
- Reconstructing Maya and Zapotec Political Organization. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from angelfire.com
- Zapotec on the Move. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from jstor.org
- Zapotec Government. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from zapotec411.tripod.com
- Zapotec. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from prezi.com
- The Zapotec and the Mixtec. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from www.tomzap.com
- Zapotec peoples. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
- Zapotec Civilization. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from ancient.eu
- Zapotecs and Monte Albán. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from galegroup.com