Final answer:
Human sacrifice in the Aztec empire was an important religious tradition and was used to expand and maintain the empire. Victims were sacrificed by having their hearts removed on temple platforms. The extent of human sacrifice is a topic of debate among historians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human sacrifice in the Aztec empire was an important part of their religious traditions and was widely practiced in Mesoamerica. Sacrifices occurred on important days identified on the Aztec calendar and during temple commemorations. Victims were led to the temple platform where their chests were opened with a sharp knife and their hearts were removed. The bodies were then thrown down the temple steps.
Human sacrifice also served as a means of expanding and maintaining the Aztec empire. Sacrificial victims were often captured in battle, and the goal of warfare was often to seize the enemy alive. Aztec war sometimes consisted of paired individuals fighting each other rather than large armies.
There is some debate about the extent of human sacrifice in the Aztec Empire, with varying accounts from Spanish chroniclers. While the number of sacrifices may have been exaggerated, it is agreed that the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice on a larger scale than other cultures in Mesoamerica.