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The Zapotecs
      The Zapotec tribes of Mexico are tribes that engulf many aspects of traditional Native American culture.  They have a set standard of living that is maintained by many traditions.  Surviving many Millennia's in the same land around the "Sierra Madre del Sur" mountains, they have established themselves as a grand Indian society since 1500 B.C.  Though the Zapotec have much in common with other tribes such as the Aztecs, they have emerged as a tribe with a unique ability of weaving the world's greatest carpets, rugs, and blankets through intricate design and precision.  The Zapotec society structure is known as an "estate" (caste system).  Their governmental style is one that can be classified as a "cultural hierarchy" and can be explained through the concept of binary opposition.  Within Zapotec society, there are princes or "caciques", priests, commoners, and slaves.  There are many different terms and occupations for each class within these Zapotec tribes and the range of lifestyle can be quite distinct.  Through the use of binary opposition it is somewhat assumed or perhaps known that the upper classes such as the princes or priests enjoy a much more lavish lifestyle because of their high status.  If Zapotec lifestyle was represented by the idea of Yin and Yang, then Yin would be a much favorable position if it represented upper class.  Marriage, diet, recreation, and occupation all derive from a person's class within Zapotec culture.  Zapotec culture and society are somewhat of a modern anomaly because of how they have managed to adapt and maintain their culture up until modern times.
       Zapotec society was distinguished into hierarchical divisions or groupings based on status, descent, and differential access to economic resources.  At the pinnacle of this cultural hierarchy were the princes.  A prince supervised labor, collected tribute, directed the government and maintenance of the community.  Princes would also administer justice, and supervised warfare.  They were the most powerful in Zapotec society and were given advice by councils of priests.  Though high in authority princes also possessed great military skills because of the importance of defending their people and kingdoms.  Most princes earned the trust of their people and were much respected.  Anyone who appeared before a prince was required to remove his shoes and keep his head bowed throughout any proceedings.  Since princes were the highest of royalty, commoners paid tribute to them with offerings of food, feathers, jewelry, jaguar skins, or cotton clothing.  Besides high status, princes were treated with as much awe and respect as if they themselves were of true divinity.  Caciques may have been divine but they also practiced polygamy (which generally was not practiced by lower classes).  A lord would appoint a person to negotiate with the parents of the woman whom he wished to marry.  Caciques married as many as fifteen or twenty women in pre-Spanish times.  If a prince was able to support his long chain of wives, then it was permissible.  This woman had to be of nobility as well since marriage between classes was forbidden.  Endogamy heavily ruled over Zapotec society.
       Forming the bulk of nobility was the priesthood of Zapotec tribes.  The function of priests in Zapotec culture was to consult with princes over matters of war, marriage, and illnesses.  Distinguished priests such as the high priest would consult with the gods to transmit their desires to the people.  Priests would place themselves in euphoric states to experience visions and/or auditory hallucinations.  These processes were aided with the consumption of mushrooms.  Priests were not allowed to marry, and were also not allowed to drink "pulque," an alcoholic beverage commonly drank by Zapotecs.  Though ordinarily prohibited from drinking pulque priests however did become intoxicated at certain festivals and had intercourse with unmarried daughters of princes.  Should any of these women get pregnant, they would be placed in confinement until the birth of the child.  If the child was a son, he would be trained as a successor of the priest.  Priests were not appointed to office, but transmitted their position to their sons or nearest relatives(Whitecotton, P.147).  Within the class of priests there was also a lesser second class responsible for keeping the sanctuary, idols, and all that pertained to worship in orderly condition; they also assisted the high priest(Whitecotton, P. 148).
     Under the priesthood/nobility stood the commoners of Zapotec culture who paid tribute to nobility.  In fact, commoners were known as "cani penilaoqueche", which meant "vassal," "subject or common people," and "tributary"(Whitecotton, P. 148).  Most commoners were bound to the land and were responsible for producing foods for the society.  A clear advantage of Zapotec society was how land was divided amongst commoners.  Zapotecs promoted a nucleated settlement in which land was divided among those taking part in the undertaking.  This was a good way to prevent dispersed plots and problems with agriculture efficiency.  Among commoners however, there were diversities within occupations.  There were day laborers, free servants, weavers, dancers, musicians, sculptors, metal workers, painters, interpreters, diviners, curers, merchants, and peddlers, among others(Whitecotton, 149).  Some specialists, like musicians or artisans, may have been exempt from tribute because they did not cultivate land and did not partake in labor on lands of lords or temples.     
     The lowest class of all Zapotecs was undoubtedly the slaves.  Slaves for the most part were usually warriors conquered by Zapotecs.  These slaves were bought or sold, sacrificed in ceremonies, and also used as domestic servants.  During certain festivities slaves were involved in human sacrifice or even eaten.  Aside from warriors defeated in warfare slavery could also result from self-choice.  A family, for example, could place itself in hereditary servitude to another.  The bond between parents and children meant that children were in turn bound to their parent's fate.  The only other alternative to becoming a slave was committing a crime in which the punishment could result in enslavement.
     Marriage played a heavy initiation in Zapotec culture.  It was taken seriously and was not to be toyed with.  All Zapotecs were allowed to marry except priests.  Marriage occurred quiet late in life.  Most men married in their 30's or even early 40's.  Before marriage, a diviner was consulted to see if the two individuals would make good mates.  A man considering marriage would consult with a woman's parents to determine if she was a virgin and otherwise eligible.  Though taken earnestly marriage could be adjourned in Zapotec Society.  For instance, if a woman were to commit adultery she would be brought before a prince.  If the woman were found guilty she was to be shamed by being publicly killed and then eaten.  In certain places however, a woman would simply be sent back to her parent's house.  Like for the nobility, polygamy was allowed only if a man could support numerous wives.
     When analyzing Zapotec social structure one can easily see its cultural representation of the concept of binary opposition.  As with a typical binary opposition example, one side of the two part comparison is usually the first and better one.  Within Zapotec society, there are those of either high class or low class status.  Obviously being of high class or nobility is a better condition much like it is better to be happy over sad, big over small, or even rich over poor.  Zapotec society is based on a cultural hierarchy that can be an ideal example of the theory of binary opposition.  High class in Zapotec society has exclusive rights over the lower class which makes their condition more favorable.  They can dress with greatly decorated garments, use jewelry, feathers, eat meat, or enjoy tributes from the lower class.
     Modern Zapotecs enjoy a humble life consisting of much their past customs.  They still live in societies that greatly resemble tribe mentality.  To this day Zapotecs create the most extravagant carpets, rugs, and blankets world-renown through their intricate art of weaving.  Though poor and without much of its cultural hierarchical past Zapotecs still hold true to the concepts of marriage and worship.  Zapotecs are still existent to this day and honor their ancestors through the continued art of weaving in which many make their living.  Agriculture, musicians, and artisans continue to rally and support their families much like the ancients.  Ancient princes, priests, commoners, and slaves all lived in tight unity which has lead to modern Zapotec society to this very day.  Their ancient cultural hierarchy seemed to have created a somewhat stable balance in society and greatly attributed to the concept of binary opposition.