Editing Oaxaca (section)

===Prehistoric and pre-Hispanic period===
[[File:WLA lacma Effigy Head Brazier Zapotec.jpg|thumb|left|[[Effigy]] Head Brazier (500 BC – 200 BC)]]
Most of what is known about prehistoric Oaxaca comes from work in the Central Valleys region. Evidence of human habitation dating to about 11,000 years BCE has been found in the [[Guilá Naquitz cave]] near the town of [[San Pablo Villa de Mitla|Mitla]]. This area was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010 in recognition of the "earliest known evidence of domesticated plants in the continent, while corn cob fragments from the same cave are said to be the earliest documented evidence for the domestication of maize." More finds of nomadic peoples date to about 5000 BCE, with some evidence of the beginning of agriculture. By 2000 BCE, agriculture had been established in the Central Valleys region of the state, with sedentary villages.<ref name="enchistoria">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/oaxaca/ |title=Historia |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Estado de Oaxaca |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=History |access-date=August 15, 2010 |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110091824/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/oaxaca/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The diet developed around this time remained until the Spanish Conquest, consisting primarily of harvested corn, beans, chocolate, tomatoes, chili peppers, squash and gourds. Meat was generally hunted and included [[paca|tepescuintle]], turkey, deer, [[peccary]], [[armadillo]] and [[iguana]].<ref name="1schmal"/>

The oldest known major settlements, such as [[Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán|Yanhuitlán]] and [[Laguna Zope]], are also in this area. The latter settlement is known for its small figures called "pretty women" or "baby face." Between 1200 and 900 BCE, pottery was produced in the area. This pottery has been linked with similar work done in [[La Victoria, Guatemala]]. Other important settlements from the same period include [[Tierras Largas]], [[San José Mogote]] and [[Guadalupe Etla|Guadalupe]], whose ceramics show [[Olmec]] influence.<ref name="enchistoria"/> The major native language family, [[Oto-Manguean languages|Oto-Manguean]], is thought to have been spoken in northern Oaxaca around 4400 BCE and to have evolved into nine distinct branches by 1500 BCE.<ref name="1schmal"/>

Historic events in Oaxaca as far back as the 12th century are described in pictographic codices painted by Zapotecs and Mixtecs in the beginning of the colonial period, but outside of the information that can be obtained through their study, little historical information from pre-colonial Oaxaca exists, and our knowledge of this period relies largely on archaeological remains.<ref name="territorio"/> By 500 BCE, Oaxaca's central valleys were mostly inhabited by the Zapotecs, with the Mixtecs on the western side. These two groups were often in conflict during the pre-Hispanic period.<ref name="rincones3031">Akaike, pp. 30–31</ref> Archeological evidence indicates that between 750 and 1521, there may have been population peaks of as high as 2.5&nbsp;million.<ref name="territorio"/>

The Zapotecs were the earliest to gain dominance over the Central Valleys region.<ref name="1schmal"/> The first major dominion was centered in Monte Albán, which flourished from 500 BCE to AD 750.<ref name="territorio"/> At its height, Monte Albán was home to 25,000 people and the capital city of the Zapotec nation.<ref name="1schmal"/> It remained a secondary center of power for the Zapotecs until the Mixtecs overran it in 1325.<ref name="rincones3031"/> The site has several notable features, including the Danzantes, a set of stone reliefs, and the finding of fine quality ceramics.<ref name="enchistoria"/>
[[File:MonteAlban021.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Looking southwest over the site of [[Monte Albán]]]]
Starting from AD 750 previous large urban centers such as Monte Alban fell across the Oaxaca area and smaller dominions grew and evolved until the [[Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire|Spanish Conquest]] in 1521.<ref name="territorio"/> Between 700 and 1300, the Mixtec were scattered among various dominions, including those of [[Achiutla]], [[Tequixtepec-Chazumba]], [[Apoala]] and [[Coixtlahuaca]]. The Zapotecs occupied a large region from Central Valleys region to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.<ref name="territorio"/> No major city-state like Monte Albán arose again, with villages and city-states remaining small, between 1,000 and 3,000 people with a palace, temple, market and residences. There were also some [[Mesoamerican ball court]]s. These and larger centers doubled as military fortresses in time of invasion. Important Zapotec and Mixtec sites include [[Yagul]], [[Zaachila]], [[Inguiteria]], [[Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán|Yanhuitlan]], [[Tamazulapan]], [[Tejupan]], and [[San Juan Teposcolula|Teposcolula]]. For nearly all this time, these various entities were at war with one another, and faced the threat of Aztec expansion.<ref name="territorio"/>

While the Zapotec remained dominant in many parts of the Central Valleys and into the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the Mixtec were pushing into Zapotec territory, taking Monte Alban. In areas they conquered, they became prolific builders, leaving behind numerous and still unexplored sites. But the conquest of the Central Valleys was never completed, with pressure coming from the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Zapotecs and Mixtecs both allied themselves and fought among themselves as they tried to maintain their lands and valuable trade routes between the high central plains of Mexico and Central America.<ref 
name="1schmal"/><ref name="rincones3031"/>

The first Aztecs arrived in the Oaxaca area in 1250, but true expansion into the region began in the 15th century. In 1457, Moctezuma I invaded the Tlaxiaco and Coixtlahuaca areas, gaining control, demanding tribute and establishing military outposts.<ref name="territorio"/> These were Mixtec lands at first, pushing these people even further into Zapotec territory.<ref name="enchistoria"/> Under [[Axayacatl]] and [[Tizoc]], the Aztec began to take control of trade routes in the area and part of the Pacific Coast. By this time, the Zapotec were led by [[Cosijoeza]] with the government in Zaachila in the latter 15th century. Under [[Ahuitzotl]], the Aztecs temporarily pushed the Zapotecs into Tehuantepec and established a permanent military base at Huaxyacac (Oaxaca city). The Aztecs were stopped only by the Spanish Conquest.<ref name="enchistoria"/> The conquest changed most of the place names in parts of Oaxaca from their Nahuatl names.<ref name="territorio"/> In 1486 the Aztecs established a fort on the hill of Huaxyácac (now called El Fortín), overlooking the present city of Oaxaca. This was the major Aztec military base charged with the enforcement of tribute collection and control of trade routes.<ref name="1schmal"/>

Aztec rule in Oaxaca lasted only a little more than 30 years.<ref name="1schmal"/>