Aztec periodReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
Human Sacrifice and the Flower Wars
On the timeline · around Aztec period ·
What happened
To 'feed' the gods, the Aztecs practised ritual human sacrifice, most victims being captured warriors. They even staged the xochiyaoyotl, or 'Flower Wars' — ritualized battles fought largely to take live captives for the sacrificial stone rather than to seize territory.
Why it matters
Sacrifice and the Flower Wars bound Aztec religion, warfare and politics into a single system — and later gave their enemies, and the Spanish, a potent reason to turn against them.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Aztec Sacrifice · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Aztec Warfare · Reputable source