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{AztecMayaMap2.jpg} A map showing Aztec and Maya territories (source)
Here is a link to Paige Douglas's wiki page she made for the class on Maya warfare. Since the Maya were not geographically very far from the Aztecs it makes sense that there would be parallels between the two civilizations. Like the Aztecs, Maya war and sacrifice was heavily entrenched in religion and rituals. Interestingly, Douglas reveals that like the Aztecs, Maya war was a thing commoners could participate in and benefit from. Although, she clarifies that war for the Maya was never over land control. This was certainly not true of the Aztecs, who greatly expanded their empire through war between 1427 and 1519.
Here is a wiki by Alex Kirby on warfare in the Andes. At first glance the Andes and Aztec civilizations don't seem to have much to do with each other, but I marveled at how many of the same or similar weapons they used. For example, warriors in the Andes also used slings, spears, and clubs that look very similar to those made by the Aztecs. However, it appears that the people of the Andes utilized more metalworking than did the Aztecs. Their clubs were made of copper as opposed to wood and obsidian.

{AztecMayaMap2.jpg} A map showing Aztec and Maya territories (source)
Here is a link to Paige Douglas's wiki page she made for the class on Maya warfare. Since the Maya were not geographically very far from the Aztecs it makes sense that there would be parallels between the two civilizations. Like the Aztecs, Maya war and sacrifice was heavily entrenched in religion and rituals. Interestingly, Douglas reveals that like the Aztecs, Maya war was a thing commoners could participate in and benefit from. Although, she clarifies that war for the Maya was never over land control. This was certainly not true of the Aztecs, who greatly expanded their empire through war between 1427 and 1519.

Here is a link to Paige Douglas's wiki page she made for the class on Maya warfare. Since the Maya were not geographically very far from the Aztecs it makes sense that there would be parallels between the two civilizations. Like the Aztecs, Maya war and sacrifice was heavily entrenched in religion and rituals. Interestingly, Douglas reveals that like the Aztecs, Maya war was a thing commoners could participate in and benefit from. Although, she clarifies that war for the Maya was never over land control. This was certainly not true of the Aztecs, who greatly expanded their empire through war between 1427 and 1519.

{http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Tzompantli_Duran.jpeg}
"are the Aztec'sAztecs' wars religious?" being religious and ritualistic in manner take much lookinginvestigation to get their captives.
The
The image on of a tzompantli,tzompantli (source), or skull been captured. I think such public displays of might aren't spiritual, but are used as instruments of fear to keep other nations from invading and to send warning to enemy soldiers. Does this mean that these ritual sacrifices are void of their original religious intentions? I would say no, that the Aztecs were truly deeply religious, but I think that attributing their warring and sacrificial efforts to religion would be dismissive of their more practical reasons for it.

{http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Tzompantli_Duran.jpeg}
My first question I posed was "are the Aztec's wars religious?" The answer is "somewhat." Wars, especially the "Flowery Wars" were often cited as being religious in manner but I think the research in Module 14 proves that religion is not the only cause. Like the religious wars of the Crusades, religion was often a noble facade for the causes of a war, but it doesn't take much looking to get to the root of the real reasons. War was very beneficial to the powerful Aztec empire. War provided armies with training; chances for individuals to gain land, wealth, and advance in social rank; and of course, the power of subjugating many people.
Next, I posed the question "were the reasons for enemy sacrifice religious?" And the answer is again, somewhat. The Aztecs sacrificed many people for many different gods, but the two gods that were associated with specifically sacrificing prisoners of war were Huitzilopochtli (explained in Module 10) and Tezcatlipoca, the god of night and destiny, and the god generally considered to be the most powerful. In a way similar to the religious causes of war, I would say that religious reasons for enemy sacrifice are also a facade. Capturing and sacrificing prisoners to appease Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca probably happened, but Aztec soldiers had a lot to gain from sacrificing their captives.
The image on this page is of a tzompantli, or skull rack, that would publicly display the skulls of the warriors who had been captured.

Other Weapons:
Bows and arrows: The bows were five feet long and the arrow heads were made out of obsidian. They could fly up to 450 feet.
the macuahuitl. (source)

(a replica of a tematlatl (source))
Another long distant weapon commonly used was the atlatl. According to the World Atlatl Association an atlatl is "a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or "dart" on the other. The flipping motion of the atlatl propels a light spear much faster and farther than it could be thrown by hand alone." For the Aztecs atlatls were also very symbolic. They were made with great artistry and often depicted their most important gods. They were sometimes given as gifts to important people.
{http://associations.missouristate.edu/mas/macquest/Desk/useatlatl.jpg} (an atlatl and a spear (source))
Other Weapons:
Bows and arrows: The bows were five feet long and the arrow heads were made out of obsidian. They could fly up to 450 feet.

{http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YaFmOpBEBtY/RjHpBB6ZxBI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/KmzYOhaVr6s/s1600/Macahuitl.JPG} (a replica of a macuahuitl (source))
Here is an excellent link to a youtube video that exhibits the brute strength of a macuahuitl in action. According to the video, in terms of power, the macuahuitl was actually quite a bit stronger than the Spanish steel sword, except they were at a disadvantage because the steel swords could destroy the wood the macuahuitl is made out of.
damage to the Spaniardseven metal armor. (source)
(a replica of a tematlatl (source))
Another long distant weapon commonly used was the atlatl. According to the World Atlatl Association an atlatl is "a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or "dart" on the other. The flipping motion of the atlatl propels a light spear much faster and farther than it could be thrown by hand alone." For the Aztecs atlatls were also very symbolic. They were made with great artistry and often depicted their most important gods. They were sometimes given as gifts to important people.
Other Weapons:
Bows and arrows: The bows were five feet long and the arrow heads were made out of obsidian. They could fly up to 450 feet.
Clubs: called a cuauhololli, these were made for crushing and smashing. Usually they were a handle of wood with a ball on the end, but sometimes they were embedded with bits of obsidian in a similar fashion to the macuahuitl.

(In recent years there has been a lot of controversy on these so called "Flowery Wars." This is the traditional view. For an alternative explanation see Module 14.)
The Aztecs were a warrior people who were deeply religious, and it is against this background religion that the Flower Wars began. Tlacaelel, an emperor of the Aztec Empire, greatly emphasized a strong allegiance to Huitzilopochtli, the powerful sun god and god of war. In an effort to nourish Huitzilopochtli, warriors were to be used as blood sacrifices. This created a culture of war and fear. War was constant as the drive to appease Huitzilopochtli was never absent.
"glorious" afterlife.
Source
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source) (Source)
(A ritual sacrifice being performed (source))

one blow. (source)
{http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YaFmOpBEBtY/RjHpBB6ZxBI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/KmzYOhaVr6s/s1600/Macahuitl.JPG} (a replica of a macuahuitl (source))
Here is an excellent link to a youtube video that exhibits the brute strength of a macuahuitl in action. According to the video, in terms of power, the macuahuitl was actually quite a bit stronger than the Spanish steel sword, except they were at a disadvantage because the steel swords could destroy the wood the macuahuitl is made out of.
Another{http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110419080443/deadliestfiction/images/1/1f/Tematlatl.jpg} Another powerful weapon called tematlatl. The slings were made from fibers from the maguey plant and the rocks they used to fling were all carefully made to be the same size and weight so that they could throw them with extreme accuracy. The rocks were very heavy and could be thrown up to an estimated 650 feet. They would have been powerful enough to do serious damage to the Spaniards armor. (source)
(a replica of a tematlatl (source))