Zapotec (Ben 'Zaa)

The Zapotec, a Mesoamerican people who developed an advanced civilization, inhabited cities as well as towns, their homes built from stones and mortar. They had an early written language system, which perhaps influenced other Mesoamerican writing systems developed by the Aztec, Maya, and Mixtec. The Zapotec lived in the Oaxaca region of modern Mexico, with a marvelous capital city of Monte Alban. They were advanced both socially and militarily - indeed, they managed to maintain their autonomy from the larger Aztec empire. They held out from the Spanish invaders until the mid sixteenth century. The name “Zapotec” was given them by their rivals to the north, the Aztec. However, their creation tales spoke of their origins from supernatural beings from above, hence their native name Ben 'Zaa, or “people of the clouds.”

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.