Beyond the Periphery: Teotihuacan, Monte Albán, and the Co-Creation of Mesoamerican Urbanism

A new framework challenges traditional core-periphery models to reveal that Teotihuacan and Monte Albán co-created Mesoamerican urbanism through reciprocal interactions. Unlike the assumption of one-way influence, this study demonstrates that both cities—Teotihuacan's planned multi-ethnic metropolis and Monte Albán's distinct hilltop Zapotec center—actively shaped each other's development. By synthesizing archaeological evidence on urban planning, material culture, social organization, and ideology, researchers show how their engagement fostered innovation at both sites, contributing to the diversity of ancient Mesoamerican civilization.

Revista, Z., & HISTORY, 10. (2025). Beyond the Periphery: Teotihuacan, Monte Albán, and the Co-Creation of Mesoamerican Urbanism. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17777065