Which ancient people built the city of Teotihuacan in central Mexico?

The ancient people who built Teotihuacan are unknown because no confirmed name for the city’s original builders survives.

Teotihuacan developed northeast of present-day Mexico City and became one of the largest cities in the ancient Americas. Its major construction occurred between about 100 BCE and 250 CE, with the city reaching its peak centuries before the rise of the Aztec Empire.

The Aztecs encountered the abandoned metropolis long after its decline and called it Teotihuacan, commonly translated as “the place where the gods were created.” That name does not identify the original inhabitants. Archaeologists have found inscriptions and art, but the city’s political identity and the language of its ruling population remain debated.

The city included the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead, and a large residential district. Evidence indicates a diverse population drawn from several regions. The city’s influence extended across Mesoamerica through trade, architecture, imagery, and political connections.