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August 31, 2017 • 2hr 56min
#9 – Sacrifice & Oppression at the Dawn of Tyranny
The Martyr Made Podcast
This episode explores the psychology and politics behind ritual human sacrifice in ancient societies, with a particular focus on the Aztec civilization. The host examines how human sacrifice emerges as societies transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled states, and how it serves to define social boundaries and stave off panic through brutal acts of self-assertion. The episode draws on anthropological and historical sources to analyze how early complex societies like the Aztecs used violence and sacrifice as a means of social control and cosmic bargaining.
#9 – Sacrifice & Oppression at the Dawn of Tyranny
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Key Takeaways
- Human sacrifice emerges at a specific stage of sociopolitical development as societies transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled states
- Early settled societies often engaged in extreme tyranny and violence as a way to establish social boundaries and assert power
- The Aztecs had a profound sense of anxiety about the instability of their world and used human sacrifice as a way to appease capricious gods
- Kings in early complex societies were often seen as divine figures who embodied both oppressive and salvific roles
- Violence and brutal displays of power were used to define social hierarchies and boundaries in transitional societies
- The Aztecs saw the universe as governed by contesting wills rather than impersonal forces, leading to attempts to bargain with and appease the gods
- Human sacrifice served psychological functions like reducing anxiety and reaffirming social order in unstable societies
- The Aztecs had not yet achieved philosophical equanimity about the nature of reality but were working towards a unique worldview before their civilization was destroyed
Introduction
This episode explores the psychology and politics behind ritual human sacrifice in ancient societies, with a particular focus on the Aztec civilization. The host examines how human sacrifice emerges as societies transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled states, and how it serves to define social boundaries and stave off panic through brutal acts of self-assertion. The episode draws on anthropological and historical sources to analyze how early complex societies like the Aztecs used violence and sacrifice as a means of social control and cosmic bargaining.
Topics Discussed
The Emergence of Human Sacrifice (0:00)
The host begins by explaining that human sacrifice is not a human universal, but rather emerges at a specific stage of sociopolitical development. It is rarely found among nomadic hunter-gatherers or in advanced civilizations, but appears in transitional societies as they move from kinship-based systems to state structures.
- Human sacrifice helped define social boundaries as egalitarian systems were replaced by class hierarchies
- It was used to stave off panic through brutal acts of self-assertion as societies faced instability
- Kings glorified in their total freedom while others were terrorized into submission
Tyranny in Early Settled Societies (22:11)
The episode explores how early settled societies often engaged in extreme forms of tyranny and violence, treating commoners almost like an opposing side in a military conflict. Several historical examples are provided:
- In British Uganda, nobles could freely rob or strip peasants on the road
- In Hawaii, chiefs could demand all possessions from commoners at will
- Social class determined whether assault, murder, or rape were considered crimes
- "Ingratitude is more common than you might think." - The host, describing how recipients of kindness often demanded more
The Aztec Social Order (28:11)
The host examines the Aztec civilization in detail, drawing on the work of scholar Inga Clendinnen. Key points include:
- Aztec society was highly stratified with strict protocols of deference
- Public violence was common, including ritual killings and harsh punishments
- The poor were largely ignored in historical sources but glimpses show their desperate conditions
- Social divisions remained firm even during times of extreme hardship like famine
Kings as Divine Figures (1:10:26)
The episode explores how kings in early complex societies were often conceived of as divine or semi-divine figures:
- Kings embodied both oppressive and salvific roles
- Their health was seen as tied to the health and stability of the realm
- Displays of violent power were seen as evidence of the king's strength and thus the kingdom's stability
- "Whether in my book or not, every man is tabernacled in every other, and he in exchange, and so on, in an endless complexity of being and witness to the uttermost edge of the world." - Quote from Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, used to illustrate ideas about kingship
Violence and Social Boundaries (1:32:26)
The host discusses how violence was used to define social boundaries and hierarchies in transitional societies:
- Public displays of violence asserted the king's power and transcendence of kinship systems
- Brutal acts created a sense of shared culpability among the ruling class
- Violence defined the limits of acceptable behavior and social categories
- The more unstable a society, the more it tends to resort to violence to maintain order
Aztec Cosmology and Anxiety (1:56:30)
The episode delves into Aztec beliefs about the nature of reality and their profound sense of cosmic anxiety:
- Aztecs saw the universe as governed by contesting wills rather than impersonal forces
- They believed in cycles of creation and destruction, with the current world doomed to end
- This led to attempts to bargain with and appease capricious gods through sacrifice
- "You are now of age. Go and live longer than your forefathers." - Ritual speech given to Aztec rulers, illustrating their sense of cosmic burden
Psychological Functions of Human Sacrifice (2:24:37)
The host examines various theories about the psychological purposes served by human sacrifice:
- Reducing anxiety by containing the fear of annihilation
- Providing a sense of control over an unpredictable universe
- Reaffirming social order and hierarchy
- Sacrifice as a form of cosmic bargaining or ransom to appease the gods
Aztec Philosophy and Worldview (2:46:44)
The episode concludes by considering the philosophical trajectory of Aztec thought before it was cut short by the Spanish conquest:
- Aztecs had not yet achieved equanimity about the nature of reality like some other world religions
- They were working towards a unique worldview that embraced cosmic cycles of creation and destruction
- Their rituals acknowledged that all consumption was tied to divine sacrifice
- The Aztec worldview did not look away from the harsh realities of existence, but confronted them directly
Conclusion
The episode provides a deep exploration of the role of human sacrifice and violence in transitional societies, with a particular focus on the Aztec civilization. It examines how sacrifice and displays of power served to define social boundaries, reduce anxiety, and attempt to bargain with capricious cosmic forces. The host argues that while the Aztec worldview may seem brutal to modern sensibilities, it contained elements of philosophical honesty and cosmic awareness that were cut short by the Spanish conquest. The episode challenges listeners to consider how all societies, including our own, grapple with questions of social order, cosmic meaning, and the use of violence to maintain stability.