How were religion and war connected in the Aztec Empire?
The Aztecs believed they owed sacrifices to their gods, so they sometimes used war to gain captives for sacrifice.
The Aztecs had to continually fight wars because their gods would be unhappy if they did not.
Gods told the Aztecs to fight their enemies and it led to them forming the Triple Alliance.
War was considered the only way to determine who would be the next emperor of the Aztec Empire.
All of the statements mentioned are true to some extent in relation to the connection between religion and war in the Aztec Empire:
1. The Aztecs believed they owed sacrifices to their gods, so they sometimes used war to gain captives for sacrifice:
Human sacrifice was an important religious practice in the Aztec Empire, as they believed it pleased the gods and ensured the continuation of the world. War provided a source of captives who were sometimes chosen for sacrifice.
2. The Aztecs had to continually fight wars because their gods would be unhappy if they did not:
The Aztecs believed that their gods required continuous offerings, and warfare was a way to obtain captives for these sacrifices. Failing to provide enough sacrifices could be seen as a neglect of their religious duties, which could bring consequences such as famine or other disasters.
3. Gods told the Aztecs to fight their enemies and it led to them forming the Triple Alliance:
According to Aztec mythology, deities played a role in guiding and legitimizing military campaigns. For instance, the god Huitzilopochtli was said to have encouraged the Aztecs to migrate and establish their capital in Tenochtitlan. The Aztec Empire's formation of the Triple Alliance with the city-states of Texcoco and Tlacopan was also said to be guided by divine intervention and prophecies.
4. War was considered the only way to determine who would be the next emperor of the Aztec Empire:
Succession to the Aztec throne often involved military conflict. The selection of a new emperor was determined through the successful performance in battle, as individuals who demonstrated martial prowess were perceived as favored by the gods and therefore suitable rulers.
Overall, religion played a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and motivations behind the Aztec Empire's warfare, with the belief in divine obligations, guidance, and the use of warfare for sacrifices and political power.