Expansionary dynamics of the nascent Monte Albán state

Abstract

The Monte Albán state emerged in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, between 300 and 100 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that this case of state formation was linked to the territorial expansion of the Monte Albán polity. We argue that rulers at Monte Albán adopted an expansionist strategy in order to acquire resources they could use to fund campaigns against rival polities and to bolster their position in a competitive sociopolitical environment. Logistical challenges associated with expansion favored experimentation with new (state) forms of administrative control, while importation of exotic goods contributed to the development of social stratification. Multiple lines of evidence—including excavation data from Tilcajete and Yaasuchi, survey data from the Sola Valley, and a GIS model of potential transportation routes—indicate that the Pacific coast of Oaxaca likely was a target of Monte Albán’s expansion. Our model explains the variable nature of that expansion and its impact on the developmental histories of neighboring regions, as well as the synergistic increase in complexity among interacting societies in Late Formative Oaxaca. Cross-cultural comparison demonstrates that key factors in the formation of the Monte Albán state (e.g., status rivalry, inter-polity conflict, territoriality, militarism, trade) are evident elsewhere in the world.