Zapotec and Toltec
|
|
Zapotec indigenous people of Mexico and Toltec Pre-Columbian Native American people
The Zapotec are an indigenous people of Mexico. Their language
group, also called Zapotec, consists of more than fifteen languages.
The Zapotec people are centered in Oaxaca, to the south of central
Mexico. In Pre-Columbian times they were one of the major
Mesoamerican civilizations. Archeological evidence shows their
culture goes back some 2500 years. They left archaelogical evidence
at the earlier and impressive ancient city of Monte Albán; in the
form of buildings, ball courts, magnificent tombs and grave goods
including finely worked gold jewelry. Monte Albán was the first
major city in the western hemisphere and the center of a Zapotec
State that dominated much of what we know of as the current state of
Oaxaca. |
The Zapotecs developed a calendar and a logophonetic system of
writing that used a separate glyph to represent each of the
syllables of the language. This writing system is considered to be
the basis of the other Mesoamerican writing systems developed by the
Maya, Mixtec, and Aztec civilizations. At the present time, there is
some debate as to whether or not Olmec symbols dated to 650 BC are
actually a form of writing preceding the oldest Zapotec writing
dated to about 500 BC.
In the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, there were Zapotec and Mixtec
artisans who fashioned jewelry for the Aztec Tlatoanis, including
Motecuhzoma II. Relations with central Mexico go back much further
however, as attested by the archeological remains of a Zapotec
neighborhood within Teotihuacan and a Teotihuacan style "guest
house" in Monte Albán. Other important Pre-Columbian Zapotec sites
include Lambityeco, Dainzu, Mitla, Yagul, San Jose Mogote, and
Zaachila.
They had an elaborate religious system, and human sacrifices have
been offered. They were polytheistic people. Principal deities
included the rain god Cocijo, the equivalent of Tlaloc of the
Aztecs.
The Toltecs (or Toltec or Tolteca) were a Pre-Columbian Native
American people who dominated much of central Mexico between the
10th and 12th century AD. Their language, Nahuatl, was also spoken
by the Aztecs.The Atlantes – columns in the form of Toltec warriors in TulaThey
originated as a militaristic nomadic people, and they or their
ancestors may have sacked the city of Teotihuacan (ca. 750). After
they established a more settled existence, the Toltec fused the many
small states in Central Mexico into an empire ruled from their
capital, Tula (also known as Tollan, or Tolán). They were
accomplished temple builders. Their influence spread through much of
Mesoamerica in the Post-Classic era of Mesoamerican chronology. The
Toltec influence on the Post-Classic Maya of Yucatán is heavy,
especially evident at the city of Chichen Itza. Their pottery has
been found as far south as Costa Rica.
Some writers have alleged that the Toltecs introduced the cult of
Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent. This is certainly not so, as this
deity was commonly depicted throughout Mesoamerica for centuries
earlier, going back to Olmec times.
The Toltec empire is believed to have been annihilated around 1200
AD by the nomadic warriors of the Chichimecs. The ruling family of
the Aztecs claimed to descend from Toltec ancestry via the sacred
city of Colhuacán.
In his writings Miguel León Portilla explains that in Nahua legend,
the Toltec were the originators of all civilization, so Toltec was
synonymous with artist, or artisan, and their city "Tollan" was
described as full of wonders. When the Aztecs rewrote their history,
they tried to show they were related to the Toltecs. Unfortunately
this means that much of the tradition of the Toltecs is legend, and
difficult to prove. Stories say that after the fall of their capital
Tula some of the Toltec retreated to Cholula, which did not fall
until centuries later when it was burned by Hernán Cortés and the
Spanish conquistadores.
Most Toltec history is known from writings of later people, such as
the Aztec, written centuries later after a "dark age" in Central
Mexico, together with some references by the Maya. Toltec rulers are
said to have included:
Chalchiuh Tlatonac – first Toltec king, founder of Tula,
Mixcoamazatzin, Huetzin, Mixcoatl Totepeuh, Ihuitimal, Topiltzin Ce
Acatl, Quetzalcoatl, son of Mixcoatl, the most famous Toltec ruler,
Matlacxochitzin, Nauhyotzin, Matlacoatzin, Tlilcoatzin – died c.
1000 (?)
Huemac – the last Toltec king, died in exile c. 1100 (?), some 6
years after the fall of Tula
In 1941, the Sociedad Mexicana de Antropología confirmed that Tula
was the capital of the Toltec, as had long been tradition and
suggested by archeologists since the 19th century. Some scholars,
including Laurette Séjourné, regret the decision, claiming that
several seasons of excavation only revealed a minor city, not enough
to justify the legend of the Toltecs. The site of Tula actually
shows it to have been a large city in its prime, although the
ceremonial art and architecture visible there today is less
impressive than that at other Mesoamerican sites. It should be
understood, however, that some chronicles from the time of the
arrival of the Spanish conquistadores and later confuse the Toltec
with other earlier Mesoamerican civilizations and sometimes tend to
attribute all achievements of the centuries before the rise of the
Aztec to the Toltec.
During the late twentieth century, some Mexican shamans, including
Don Miguel Ruiz, who claim to be descendants of the Toltec and
inheritors of their spiritual powers, began writing and teaching for
a worldwide audience, causing a renewed interest in the Toltec.
Another such author is Victor Sanchez who was inspired by the
writings of Carlos Castaneda. |
 |
|
Nofeerentals.com rental apartments for rent in Murray Hill New York Manhattan studio , one bedroom apartments, two bedroom apts for rent in the Murray Hill in New York City NYC Murray Hill http://www.nofeerentals.com/new-york/manhattan/murray-hill.asp
Notasinc.com Wooden Balconies, hand made carved wood balconies These handicrafts are a beautifully hand made wood balconies, crafted by in Colombia by artisans with quality materials and a distinct original design. The Wood is used in every part of each piece, including the individually carved roof tiles. http://www.notasinc.com/wooden_balconies.htm
White Gold Emerald Rings and Platinum Emerald Rings by Jewelheaven.com Emerald Ring is basically a circular object with an emerald, though size and color may vary depends on the artistic design but the basic shape is always circular. Emerald ring is worn because emerald symbolizes the green energy of healing it. http://www.jewelheaven.com/Emerald-Rings.asp
Lansend.com: Microsoft Certified Computer consultants in New York, NY Microsoft Certified Computer consultants providing computer and network consulting services in New York ,NY Manhattan Queens, Lan Wan Networking VPN. http://www.lansend.com
Solid hunter futon cover a machine washable solid futon covers
solid hunter futon cover is crafted from upholstery grade duck and this solid
futon covers are a polycotton machine washable futon covers
http://www.futonstogo.com/details-of-product/futon-cover-solid-hunter-cotton-solid.asp
|