DBA Armies

The fall around 900 to internal subversion of the Zapotec empire ruled from the city now called Monte Alban in south- eastern Mexico left a political vacuum. This was filled from 1280 by two new alliances based on the Zapotec city of Zaachila and the Mixtec city of Cuilapan respectively. The primary weapon of the warrior classes was the atlatl dart-thrower, which (unlike the Aztecs) they used to maintain a distant combat rather than to precede a charge. The normal side-arm was a short copper axe or a stone-headed or obsidian-studded mace, but nobles could substitute an obsidian-edged spear or cutting weapon. Slingers provided a dense skirmishing barrage. Mixtec armies were sometimes commanded by the priest of a major oracle dressed as his god and backed by a rigidly disciplined temple army. West Mexican (and later Mixtec and Zapotec) armies often replaced atlatl with bows. Reference: Armies of the 16th Century Vol 2. 1. Heath.