Proxies of Power: Teotihuacan's Imperial Reach and Zapotec Resilience at Monte Albán

The Classic period in Mesoamerica (circa AD 200-900) witnessed the rise of complex urban centers and interregional interactions that shaped the sociopolitical landscape for centuries. Among the most prominent were Teotihuacan, a vast metropolis in the Basin of Mexico, and Monte Albán, the powerful Zapotec capital in the Valley of Oaxaca. This paper investigates the nature of their relationship, focusing on the material and iconographic "proxies of power" through which Teotihuacan's influence manifested at Monte Albán, and simultaneously examining evidence of Zapotec resilience and cultural autonomy. While archaeological data reveal the widespread presence of Teotihuacan-style artifacts, architectural elements, and ideological motifs at Monte Albán, suggesting a significant degree of interaction, these influences were often integrated selectively and adapted to Zapotec traditions. We synthesize existing scholarship on ceramic distribution, obsidian trade, architectural styles, and elite interactions to critically evaluate models of Teotihuacan's imperial reach, ranging from direct political control to economic hegemony or peer-polity interaction. Our analysis argues that while Teotihuacan exerted a profound hegemonic influence across Mesoamerica, Monte Albán largely maintained its political independence and cultural distinctiveness. The Zapotec response was characterized by a strategic adoption of certain Teotihuacan innovations, particularly those enhancing elite prestige and economic networks, while vigorously preserving core elements of their religious, linguistic, and political identity. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of ancient Mesoamerican interregional dynamics, highlighting the agency of secondary centers in the face of larger, influential polities.