The Zapotec are strongly associated with Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s most culturally diverse states. Zapotec languages are not a single uniform language but a diverse group of related languages spoken in different regions, including the valleys, mountains, and Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Zapotec civilization has deep roots in Mesoamerican history, and the ancient city of Monte Alban is one of its most important archaeological landmarks. For someone learning about Mexico, the Zapotec illustrate both the depth of pre-Hispanic civilization and the continuing importance of Indigenous languages and local identities in modern Oaxaca.