John Gergen

From an anthropological perspective there is one important important part of the film that explains more so the defeat of the Aztecs than the Mayans. The capturing of other tribe members for sacrifice was more important than killing them. There was great prestige and rewards for warriors that captured the enemy. The importance of the sacrifice so life would not end was crucial to Mayan and Aztecs belief system. When the Aztecs battled the Spaniards, they tried to capture them. At the same time the Spaniards were trying to kill the Aztecs warriors. In Anthropology this is one of theories why the Aztecs loss even with superior numbers.