[Aztlan] Torture and human sacrifice in North America

[E.P. Grondine]

>Torture of captives by North American Indians east of the Mississippi was >normal.  Captured warriors were "honored" - if that is the right word - >when they displayed indifference to both pain and their ultimate fate >during torture.  If some of them could do it, we might expect many Aztec >captives to "consent" to a less painful death.  (Or am I depending too >much on novels for information about North American Indian customs?)
>Steven Zoraster

Hi Steve - 

It isn't the novels that are throwing you off. One must keep in mind that neighboring peoples remained friendly neighbors for long periods of time, until something like say, ummm, ecological collapse touched off migration and war.

Another problem is the war of European conquest, and who was fighting who when, and for what, and what earlier interactions had occurred.

Young Germans often point out that any people can descend into race war and/or cruelty; the problem is why, so one must be particular in tracing how that happens.

Mississipian human sacrifice was described in detail by Le Page du Pratz. I passed on part of his accounts in my book "Man and Impact in the Americas", and they do throw light on Central American practices. In my opinion I think that many will find reading both useful for the aid they provide in understanding the phenomenon of human sacrifice in the Americas.

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas