Final answer:
The Aztecs transformed battlefield killing into ritualistic human sacrifices to their gods, which also played a role in maintaining control over conquered territories. Aztec warfare aimed to capture enemies alive, and young boys were trained early for this purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
By the death of Ahuitzotl, the Aztecs had turned killing on the battlefield into an essential component of their religious rituals. Notably, human sacrifices were performed on a monumental scale during Aztec religious ceremonies. Warfare served as a means to capture enemies alive for these sacrificial rituals. Through Aztec warfare, which was often ritualistic and sometimes involved one-on-one combat, the Aztecs obtained prisoners who would later be offered to the gods. This was not only a religious practice but also a way to expand political control and keep conquered territories in line. As a result, capturing enemies rather than outright killing them became the focus.
During significant events, such as the inauguration of temples or high-profile ceremonies, long lines of sacrificial victims were led up the steps of temples, like the Templo Mayor, where they would be sacrificed. Their hearts were removed, and their bodies were thrown down the temple steps. This practice was deeply rooted in Mesoamerican culture, tracing back to earlier civilizations like the Olmecs.
The Aztec military began training young boys from an early age to serve in these ritualistic battles, wielding weapons like javelins to prepare for the theatrics of warfare, which ultimately led to human sacrifices to honor gods such as Huitzilopochtli. The massacre at the Great Temple in Tenochtitlán by the Spaniards during a ritual ceremony sparked a rebellion, illustrating the importance and sanctity of these rituals to the Aztec people.