Cooperation and tensions in multiethnic corporate societies using Teotihuacan, Central Mexico, as a case study

Teotihuacan's multiethnic society, shaped by volcanic displacements and strategic elite actions, revealed complex dynamics of cooperation and tension. The ruling elite controlled distant raw materials while intermediate elites competed to display sumptuary goods like cotton attire, pigments, and pottery, fostering neighborhood identity. This competition, coupled with the corporate structure at the societal extremes, introduced tensions that may have contributed to Teotihuacan's eventual collapse. The study uses archaeological evidence to analyze these dynamics, highlighting the role of elite strategies in shaping urban society.

Manzanilla, L. R. (2015). Cooperation and tensions in multiethnic corporate societies using Teotihuacan, Central Mexico, as a case study. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(30), 9210–9215. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1419881112