The Organization of Space: Authority and Control in the Construction of Cultural Heritage in Coahuila in the Mid-Eighteenth Century

In Mexico’s state-building process, the organization of space was intrinsically linked to the creation of political and social order. This study explores how urban space in Monclova was defined through mechanisms of territorial control exercised by the institutional legitimate authorities, establishing a system of identity values forming the basis of its contemporary cultural heritage. Analyzing narratives surrounding Monclova, Coahuila, in Northeast Mexico, allows us to access the “invisible realities” often diluted by conventional historical narratives. A narrative approach is valuable because it recognizes that history comprises individual experiences, often minimized, that constitute the foundation of cultural heritage, collective memory and territorial identity. Examining these narratives from a historical-anthropological point of view enables us to reinterpret dominant narratives, questioning both their premises and the dynamics of belonging and governance they reflect.