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Photo credit: Rod Waddington
圖片引自：Rod Waddington
9、Zapotec Civilization
薩博特克文明
While most people are familiar with the Aztecs and the Maya of Mesoamerica, the people known as the Zapotec remain relatively obscure. Among the first people in the area to use agricultural and writing systems, they also built one of the earliest recognized cities in North America—Monte Alban. Founded in the fifth century B.C., the city was home to a maximum of 25,000 citizens and lasted for over 1,200 years. In Monte Alban, a privileged class made up of priests, warriors, and artists ruled over the lower classes.
相較于許多人對中美洲 阿芝特科（Aztecs）及瑪雅（Maya）的熟悉來說，一支稱為 薩博特克（Zapotec）的文明顯得生澀了許多。他們不僅是這一地區最早進行農業耕作、使用書寫系統的文明之一，同時也修建了北美地區最早的城市——Monte Alban。[譯者注：地理劃分上“中美洲”只是一個地區的概念而算不上一個“洲”。Zapotec文明及其中心城市Monte Alban位于今墨西哥南部，在地理上屬于“中美”范疇，但按“七大洲”概念則屬北美] 該城建于公元前5世紀，最多可容納2萬5000名市民，存續超過1千200年之久。在Monte Alban城，由牧師、戰士及藝術家組成的特權階級統治著其他相對低級的階層。
Like many of the civilizations of Mesoamerica, the Zapotecs subjugated the surrounding areas through a mix of warfare, diplomacy, and tribute. The sudden downfall of their culture seemed to have no reason, and their largest city was mostly left intact, though it was eventually ruined by years of abandonment. Some scholars believe that a failure of their economic system may have pushed the Zapotecs to find work elsewhere. The rest of the population grouped together into various city-states, which proceeded to fight each other (as well as outside forces) until they were no more.
同中美洲地區許許多多的其他文明一樣，薩博特克也通過包括戰爭、外交和進貢在內的方式征服了周邊地區。這支文明的衰落看起來毫無緣由，而且他們最大的城市也基本上是完好地遺留了下來，雖然由于多年的棄置，最終還是損毀了。一些學者認為，他們失敗的經濟體系，或許使得薩博特克人不得不到其他地區尋找工作。余下的人口組成了大量的城邦，并且相互交戰（同時也與外部勢力交戰）直至滅亡。
