Ancient civilization

Human Sacrifice: Aztecs Fact Sheet

Background Information on the Aztecs

● Believed to have originated as a nomadic tribe in northern Mexico.

○ Nomadic people (nomads) are individuals who move from one place to another,

instead of living in a fixed location.

● Appeared in Mesoamerica around the beginning of the 13th century.

● They developed a sophisticated agricultural system and a powerful military, which aided

in creating a sophisticated state.

● Tenochtitlan, their capital city, followed an intricate bureaucratic organization.

○ Tenochtitlan was socially stratified: nobles were at the top, whereas servants and

slaves were on the bottom.

○ The city was overthrown by Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, in 1521.

The Significance of Human Sacrifice

● Aztecs, along with other civilizations, such as the Maya, Olmec and Toltecs, practiced

human sacrifice.

● While Aztecs did take part in various means of human sacrifices, such as

dismemberment, skinning, and decapitation, it was strictly enacted as a means of worship

and ritual practice.

○ During the Spanish conquest, chroniclers exaggerated these acts and portrayed the

Aztecs as bloodthirsty beasts.

● Human sacrifice was utilized as a means of worshipping a multitude of gods.

○ The Aztecs believed that in order to ensure prosperity and balance in their society,

they had to nourish their gods.

○ Acted as a means of repayment

to the gods for the creation of

the world and sun.

● Individuals were stretched over a

special stone where their heart was

removed using an obsidian knife.

○ Heart was placed in stone

vessel and burned.

Other Means of Sacrifice Utilized

● Bloodletting - ritualized self-cutting

that served as an ideological and

cultural factor in Mesoamerican

societies.

● The Aztecs sacrificed creatures to the

gods, such as deer, butterflies, and

snakes.

Reflective Analysis

After conducting extensive research, I have developed not only a greater understanding

of the Aztec culture, but an overall appreciation for the indigenous people who inhabited the

Ancient Americas. As I have mentioned numerous times throughout my field notes, many

history courses fail to thoroughly explore the culture and lives of America’s inhabitants prior to

European settlement. Due to the lack of exposure to these various cultures, many do not realize

how complex societies truly were.

Our recent readings, specifically “Chapter 10: The Emergence of Cities and States”,

detail specific information in regards to an array of civilizations, such as Tikal. With the

knowledge I had gained from my visits at the Field Museum and the brief mention of

Teotihuacan in the textbook, I strongly believed that there was a great deal of information to

learn about the Aztec empire and the various beliefs that were held.

For my individual presentation, I had decided to specify my research on human sacrifice

found in the Aztec culture. While the Aztecs have a infamous reputation for being bloodthirsty

beasts, it is evident that there is significant meaning that underlies their ritualistic acts. Similar to

how individuals today partake in various religions, the Aztecs emphasized the importance of

religious practice. Religion, throughout the course of history, has provided individuals with a

sense of being and has acted as a means of unifying societies.

With that said, human sacrifice played a major role in religion and spirituality for the

Aztecs. To them, it was a necessary part of life that ensured prosperity and balance in their lives.

Without it, they believed that the world would come to an end. In order to honor their gods, such

as Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, they believed that they had to nourish them with their blood and

flesh. Hundreds, possibly even thousands, of individuals were sacrificed each year. Some

willingly volunteered, as they believed it was an honorable and courageous act. Along with those

who volunteered, captive warriors and children were also sacrificed. Artifacts displayed at The

Field Museum, such as obsidian blades, have aided archaeologists in piecing together the belief

system of this complex civilization.

While many of us today look down upon at the act of human sacrifice, we must set aside

our ethnocentric beliefs and remember that every culture is entitled to respect. In addition, it is

important to note that many religions today have some form of sacrifice. For example, Catholics

partake in the act of giving up meat during the time of Lent. Regardless of the sacrifice being

made, it is clear that it holds great importance to someone and that itself should be enough of a

reason for us to have consideration for cultures outside of our own.

As the semester is coming to an end, I can firmly state that I have acquired a considerable

amount of knowledge on the topic of anthropology. This final project has aided me in

understanding the significance of viewing the various parts of a culture in the broadest way.

Rather than having a culture-bound perspective of the world, I will continue to confront different

ideas with an open mind and try my best to understand their significance in the world we live in

today.

Works Cited for FACT SHEET and REFLECTIVE ANALYSIS

“Aztec Culture and Human Sacrifice.” History on the Net, History on the Net, 14 June 2018,

www.historyonthenet.com/aztec-culture-and-human-sacrifice.

“Aztecs.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2018,

www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/aztecs.

Cartwright, Mark. “Aztec Sacrifice.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 1 Dec. 2018, www.ancient.eu/Aztec_Sacrifice/.

“Did the Aztecs Really Practice Human Sacrifice?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 30

July 2012, www.history.com/news/did-the-aztecs-really-practice-human-sacrifice.