Beyond Emulation: Zapotec Agency and Selective Adoption of Teotihuacan Urbanism at Monte Albán

This paper challenges the conventional narrative of Teotihuacan's pervasive influence on contemporary Mesoamerican urban centers, particularly at Monte Albán, the pre-eminent Zapotec capital in the Valley of Oaxaca. While archaeological evidence undeniably points to interaction between these two major Classic period powers, a nuanced examination reveals that Monte Albán's urban development was not a passive emulation but rather a strategic and selective adoption of certain Teotihuacan traits, filtered through a distinct Zapotec cultural lens. We argue for the primacy of Zapotec agency, demonstrating how urban planning, architectural styles, and public monumental spaces at Monte Albán incorporated Teotihuacan elements only when they aligned with existing Zapotec sociopolitical, cosmological, and environmental frameworks. This selective process is evident in the adaptation of grid-like layouts to the local topography, the unique development of residential architecture, and the distinct functions and iconography of major public buildings like Building J and the Danzantes Gallery. By highlighting these examples, this research underscores Monte Albán's active role in cultural synthesis, repositioning the Zapotec capital as a sophisticated recipient and innovator rather than a mere imitator in the complex web of Mesoamerican interregional relations.