West Mexico coalesced -- The comparative world-systems approach and its application to archaeology -- The regional setting of West Mexico at 200 CE -- The Late Formative-Early Classic Period transition 200/250 CE -- World-system decentralization : spheres and networks in the Epiclassic Period 600-900 CE -- The early Postclassic Period transformation of West Mexico 900-1200 CE -- West Mexico in the Mesoamerican World System