Final answer:
Cuicuilco was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, not by conflict with Teotihuacan, which allowed Teotihuacan to rise to prominence. Teotihuacan later experienced its own decline due to the burning of its ceremonial center but continued to be revered by subsequent cultures like the Aztecs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cuicuilco and Teotihuacan were rival city-states in ancient Mesoamerica. Cuicuilco was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, not conflict with another city-state, which led to Teotihuacan's rise in prominence. Following Teotihuacan's decline, power in the region shifted to Tula, the capital of the Toltec Empire, which became known for its impressive pyramids and widespread cultural influences, including the widespread worship of the Feathered Serpent deity, known as Quetzalcoatl to the Aztecs.
Teotihuacan itself experienced a period of rapid growth and became one of the largest cities in the world with a population of 200,000, dominating the trade in obsidian and influencing many Mesoamerican cultures. However, in the middle of the seventh century, Teotihuacan experienced a disaster when its ceremonial center burned, leading to the city's decline. Even so, Teotihuacan's influence persisted through time, with the Aztecs later revering it as the gathering place of the gods.