Today I went to Monte Alban. The differnces between Mitla and Monte Alban are huge, and yet they are only miles away from each other. What it lacked in intricate design it made up in size. I got there by 9 a.m. in order to beat the rush of tourists. It took me over 2 hours to tour the place, but I really took my time. On the way up I met a dog that I named TD (Temple Dog), he was a stray that seemed to live there. I saw several preople carry him down the steps only to release him and see him run back up again. Once I reached the top, which isn't like climbing a regular flight of stairs I got a birds eye view. It was so amazing, from the top of the southern platform you could see for at least a hundred miles.
From what I have read, Monte Alban was said to be the ancient capital of the Zapotecs and one of the first cities in Mesoamerica. During it's epoch, it was one of the most populated. It was founded approximately 500 years BC and flourished until 750 AD. Located in the central valley of Oaxaca, Monte Alban exercised political, economic, and ideological control over the other communities and surrounding mountains.
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