Interactions between Ancient Teotihuacan and the Maya world

New evidence suggests that the Teotihuacan state, during its monumental construction phase around the 3rd century CE, engaged with Maya and other foreign groups in significant ways. These interactions likely involved the exchange of esoteric knowledge, mass-sacrifice rituals, or participation in accession ceremonies. The 'Entrada' event around 378 CE appears to mark a renewed contact between Teotihuacan and specific Petén groups, coinciding with a restructuring of the Teotihuacan polity towards militarism and expansionist designs. This study interprets data from Teotihuacan's city center to propose that these interactions were pivotal in shaping its pan-Mesoamerican worldview and socio-political dynamics.

Sugiyama, S., & Sugiyama, N. (2020). Interactions between Ancient Teotihuacan and the Maya world. The Maya World, 689–711. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351029582-42