What was the relationship between war captives and social hierarchy in Aztec culture?

In Aztec culture, war captives were often used as sacrifices, reinforcing the social hierarchy and religious beliefs.

The Aztec society was highly stratified, with a clear distinction between the nobility and commoners. The nobility, which included the military elite, priests, and rulers, held significant power and prestige. War captives played a crucial role in maintaining this social hierarchy. They were often used as human sacrifices in religious ceremonies, which were central to Aztec culture and society. These sacrifices were believed to appease the gods and ensure the continued prosperity of the Aztec Empire.

Warfare was a significant aspect of Aztec life, not only for territorial expansion but also for capturing prisoners for sacrifice. The act of capturing an enemy in battle, known as 'tlacotin', was a way for warriors to gain social prestige. The more captives a warrior could take, the higher his status would rise within the society. This practice further entrenched the social hierarchy, as it was primarily the nobility and military elite who had the opportunity to participate in warfare and capture prisoners.

Moreover, the captives themselves were often from lower social classes or enemy societies, reinforcing their lower status in the Aztec social hierarchy. They were treated as commodities, traded in markets, and used for labour. Their ultimate fate, however, was to be sacrificed in public ceremonies. These rituals served to demonstrate the power and dominance of the Aztec nobility and the gods they served.

In essence, war captives were a crucial component in the maintenance and reinforcement of the Aztec social hierarchy. Their capture and subsequent sacrifice underscored the power and prestige of the military elite and nobility, while their treatment and ultimate fate highlighted their lower status. This system served to maintain the social order and religious beliefs that were central to Aztec culture.