Aztec Cannibalism: Ritual, Protein, or Spanish Propaganda?

Was Aztec human sacrifice followed by cannibalism a religious ritual, a protein source, or a Spanish exaggeration? Lucas and Luna dig into the evidence: the Florentine Codex, Bernal Díaz del Castillo's accounts, and modern anthropology. They discuss the ritual of eating a victim's flesh with maize and salt, the social status of consuming heart and thigh meat, and the rival theory that cannibalism supplied protein to Tenochtitlan's millions. They also explore how Spanish conquistadors used accusations of cannibalism to justify conquest, and what indigenous sources actually say. The episode examines the calpulli system, the preparation of captives, and the symbolic meaning of consuming an enemy's essence. By the end, you'll understand why the debate over cannibalism reveals more about colonial biases than about Aztec culture. #AztecCannibalism #HumanSacrifice #FlorentineCodex #BernalDiazDelCastillo #Tenochtitlan #Mexica #Calpulli #TemploMayor #Xochiyaoyotl #Tlacaelel #CortS #MarvinHarris #Mesoamerica #SpanishPropaganda #CannibalismDebate #AztecRitual #FexingoHistory #History #AztecEmpire #MoctezumaII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo