terms. Through an investigation of the ecological contexts and environmental opportunities of urban centers, the contributors to this volume consider how ancient Mesoamerican cities defined themselves and reflected upon their physical—and metaphysical—place via their built environment. Themes include the ways in which a kingdom’s public monuments were fashioned to reflect geographic space, patron gods, and mythology, and how the Olmec, Maya, Mexica, Zapotecs, and others sought to center their world through architectural monuments and public art. This collection of papers addresses how communities leveraged their environment and built upon their cultural and historical roots, and the ways the performance of calendrical rituals and other public events tied individuals and communities to both urban centers and hinterlands. Scholars from archaeology, anthropology, art history, and religious studies contribute new perspectives to the understanding of ancient Mesoamericans’ view of their spectacular urban and ritual centers.

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