EGALITARIANISM WITHOUT CATASTROPHE?

This paper explores the Teotihuacan civilisation’s low levels of inequality, challenging Walter Scheidel’s Four Horsemen theory which posits that only catastrophic events can significantly reduce inequality. Analysing Teotihuacan, a large pre-Columbian city noted for its egalitarian structure, the paper refutes the idea that only mass warfare, pandemics, revolution or state collapse can flatten social hierarchies. It suggests that Teotihuacan’s unique formation and governance, influenced by a multiethnic population influx following a volcanic eruption, fostered a decentralised and egalitarian society. The paper contributes to the discussion on designing equal and sustainable societies, offering an alternative historical perspective to the inevitability of social inequality.