Religion / idea · concept

Human sacrifice

Also known as sacrificial

Human sacrifice is the ritual killing of people as an offering to gods or spirits. In the Aztec Empire it was central to religion, intended to sustain the gods and the cosmic order. The need for captives shaped Aztec warfare, including the ritualised Flower Wars, and was tied to tribute and imperial power.

Mentioned in 6 profiles

Ashanti EmpireDeclineAztec EmpireFoundation, MilitaryShang dynastySocioeconomyState of QinSocioeconomyKingdom of DahomeyGovernanceMesoamerican religionBeliefs, Legacy

Mentioned in 3 state histories

Shang dynastyChichen ItzaJaintia Kingdom

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Human sacrifice. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/human-sacrifice
MLA
“Human sacrifice.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/human-sacrifice. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Human sacrifice.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/human-sacrifice.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Human sacrifice’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/human-sacrifice (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻