Political Strategies in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica

A comprehensive analysis of political strategies in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica reveals the diverse and dynamic nature of centralized authority across time and space. The study challenges the monolithic view of governance, employing Weberian and Foucauldian frameworks to explore how rulers negotiated authority, supernatural mediation, and social relations. Through a broad range of case studies—from Río Viejo in Oaxaca to Teotihuacan and the Purépecha empire—the research demonstrates that political control varied significantly, with some sites like Monte Albán achieving integration while others, such as Middle Preclassic Ceibal, exhibited limited coercive power. The volume also highlights the role of elite lineages, patron deities, and landscape in legitimizing rule, offering new insights into the endurance and contradictions of ancient Mesoamerican states.

Tavárez, D. (2018). Political Strategies in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Hispanic American Historical Review, 98(4), 713–714. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182168-7160402