A warlike culture? Religion and war in the Aztec world

The Aztec-Mexica people of Tenochtitlan were, by their own definition, a ‘warlike’ culture, collective identity closely tied to military ideals and behaviours. values war were dramatized re-enacted at every level society, shared warrior was widely understood both men women. This also culture in which religion the supernatural so deeply embedded belief behaviour that it is almost impossible distinguish religious practice from everyday activities. Attempts ‘rationalize’ Mesoamerican approaches warfare often stem laudable desire demystify Indigenous cultures, recognize sophistication, refute accusations superstition savagery. But any attempt disentangle deprives Aztec structures very logic scholars seek instil. For peoples Mexico, rational: provided explanations, motivations, identities. One did not go solely for reasons, but process reasoning, decision making, occurred within universe physical metaphysical interwoven. Aztecs, sacred act performed service gods. They framed themselves as warriors, only tangible terms, historically, mythically metaphorically. Warfare inextricable Tenochtitlan, seeing Aztecs frame reference, giving value meaning rituals histories, can we understand conjunction embracing active vision cosmos.