Moctezuma

In order to understand the mind-set of Moctezuma and the reason that other people helped the Spanish who were facing what could have proven to be disastrous odds, it is necessary to examine the sacrificial practices extant until Cortes overwhelmed Moctezuma. The Aztecs were sun worshippers who believed that human sacrifice was necessary in order to ensure the progress of their sun god across the sky. The Aztecs made it a practice to capture individuals from other tribal groups and use them as sacrificial lambs. If it hadn't been for this practice, it is conceivable that Cortes would not have been successful for he received ample support from neighbouring peoples.

In addition there were prior to the arrival of Cortes several evil omens causing soothsayers to predict the destruction of the kingdom. A fiery comet crossed the sky and somewhat later the temple of Huitzilopochitl, which just happened to represent the god of war, burst into flames. Mejico lago boiled and rose, flooding houses.

In the final analysis, it was the conviction that Moctezuma held that resulted in the overthrow of Aztec rule. It is conceivable that Moctezuma would not have been capable of doing anything but capitulate for he was a devout scholar. Untruths believed become truths in the mind of the believer, no matter how distorted these beliefs may later prove to be.

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