c. 1450–1454 CEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Great Famine of 1450
On the timeline · around c. 1450–1454 CE ·
What happened
Around 1450 a devastating famine struck central Mexico. For the Aztecs, such disasters confirmed that the gods hungered, and the crisis is linked to an intensification of human sacrifice meant to keep the gods appeased and the world in balance.
Why it matters
The famine deepened the Aztec conviction that only ceaseless sacrifice could sustain the cosmos — a belief that shaped their religion and warfare for the rest of the empire's life.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Aztec Sacrifice · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Aztec Civilization · Reputable source