Assessment Questions 12.4

1. How did Aztec commoners live, and what role did they play in the economic system?

Aztec commoners lived in small houses but were part of a complex economic system. They produced goods for sale or trade, and artifacts found in their houses, such as cotton-related items, indicate their involvement in economic activities.

2. What was the Aztec perspective on human sacrifice, and why did they engage in this practice?

The Aztecs believed human sacrifice was necessary to keep the world in motion and ensure the survival of humanity. They saw it as a vital practice to please the gods and maintain the order of the world.

3. How did the Aztec state justify human sacrifice, and what was the purpose of the tzompantli?

The Aztecs justified human sacrifice as essential for the world's survival. The tzompantli, an enormous rack containing human skulls, symbolized their commitment to placating the gods. It served as a visual signal of the state's power over life and death.