What was one major reason for warfare in Mesoamerican civilizations?

One major reason for warfare in Mesoamerican civilizations was to capture prisoners for sacrifice. This practice was deeply intertwined with the religious beliefs and social structures of civilizations like the Aztec and Maya. Many Mesoamerican societies viewed warfare as a means to appease their gods, with human sacrifice being a critical ritual to ensure fertility, good harvests, and the continuation of the cosmos.

The belief in the necessity of offering human blood to the deities often drove these civilizations to engage in warfare, where capturing enemies rather than killing them was often the primary goal. This practice underscored the significance of prisoners in Mesoamerican culture, attributing spiritual and social importance to them, which further fueled the cycle of warfare.

While seeking new agricultural lands, establishing trade, and protecting against natural disasters were important aspects of Mesoamerican life, they did not carry the same religious urgency or societal structure that motivated the focus on capturing prisoners for sacrificial purposes.