Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest

Re:Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest by Jedd on Saturday April 28, 2018 @10:06AM (#16947685)

> I wonder if this kind of customs helped the Spanish conquest and subsequent colonization of the Inca/Aztec Empire.

I don't think so. It's probably mostly down to what Jared Diamond describes - Guns, Germs, and Steel.

The occasional score of children and conquests slaughtered voluntarily is dwarfed by the numbers of natives that died from smallpox (f.e.).

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Re:Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest by yosito on Saturday April 28, 2018 @11:36AM (#16948134)

Guns may have had much less to do with it than is commonly believed. I recommend the book 1492 if you're curious about why that is.

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Re:Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest by Jedd on Saturday April 28, 2018 @09:43PM (#16950348)

I tend to agree. I suspect the availability of guns was useful in a few key engagements, but the accidental weaponisation of smallpox (for example) was much more effective in wiping out indigenous forces.

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Re:Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest by yosito on Sunday April 29, 2018 @11:19PM (#16955454)

Another thing to consider is that European guns sucked during that time period. Bows and arrows and other native weapons were probably very competitive.

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