While people no longer live among the structures at Monte Alban, the city, constructed around 800 BCE, remained one of the largest Mesoamerican cities for over twelve centuries, functioning as the capital for the Zapotec people. The Zapotecs built the city into the ground, leveling off the city's massive platform base, strategically placed 2000 meters above sea level in the central valleys of Oaxaca. Beginning as a centralized space for the Zapotec community, the city grew significantly over time, wielding influence over communities in surrounding regions. Observation of the lines and layout of pyramids, terraces, and platforms illuminate the meticulous architectural planning of the city. From the central platform of Monte Alban, the remarkable view of the surrounding valley and night sky above provides a glimpse into what life was like for people living in the Oaxaca Valley over a thousand years ago.