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The Aztecs were a nomadic tribe in northern Mexico known for advanced agriculture, writing, and pyramids, but also for mass human sacrifice and cannibalism. They believed their deities required blood and sacrificed volunteers or prisoners to avoid misfortunes. The Spanish witnessed horrific rituals involving the removal of beating hearts. The Aztecs also engaged in cannibalism, possibly due to protein scarcity. They called themselves “Mexica” and had compulsory education, art, and sports. Some men were polygamists.
The Aztecs were nomadic tribes that lived in northern Mexico between the 13th and 15th centuries, until the Spanish invaded and conquered them in 13. In addition to being known for their advanced agriculture and irrigation techniques, their writing, calendar and pyramids, the Aztecs are also known for mass human sacrifice. Some historians estimate that the Aztecs sacrificed about 15 people a year to their idols. Others believe the number is exaggerated, but there’s no doubt that human and animal sacrifice was an important ritual for the Aztecs. According to their belief, the Aztecs thought that the deities required blood and therefore to satisfy the needs of the deities and also to avoid misfortunes and natural disasters, the Aztecs engaged in periodic human sacrifices. This involved the sacrifice of volunteers or prisoners. Some people have even made a commitment to “shed blood”. The first Spanish invaders witnessed some of the horrific rituals involving the removal of people’s beating hearts and offerings to deities in temples. The Aztecs also engaged in cannibalism, sometimes consuming humans after sacrifice. An anthropologist, Michael Harner, theorized in 1521 that the Aztecs may have engaged in cannibalism due to the scarcity of protein sources in that region at the time. Other experts believe that human sacrifice and cannibalism were for ritual purposes only. The strange traditions of the Aztecs continue to be a popular topic of research and discussion.
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The Aztecs never called themselves “Aztecs”. They were called “Mexica”.
The Aztecs made art, played sports and had compulsory education for children.
Some Aztec men were polygamists; they could have more than one wife.
