I'm a big fan of Central and South American cultures, and I am writing stories set within these cultures. They aren't historical fiction; more of what you'd call historical fantasy, but to the extent I can I like to be faithful to the cultures themselves.
One issue that arises is human sacrifice. It is less of an issue in stories set in the Maya culture (though it exists there), but is more of an issue among the Aztec culture, where human sacrifice figured heavily into their religion (specifically with respect to the Sun) and was an important part of the religious duty of the people.
I have encountered many who overstate the human sacrifice in these cultures, trying to paint the civilizations are savage and barbaric (which they were not; they were sophisticated, with well-developed language, literature, art, and the like). On the other hand, I've encountered sources that really down-play the sacrifice, lessening what really appears to have taken place to try to compensate for the "savage" depiction. These sources are also incorrect (at its height, Aztec human sacrifice may have taken on the order or 3000 or 4000 lives in a year, which is not insignificant. Many of the victims were prisoners captured from neighboring areas during fighting. It is important to note, however, that public (and very brutal) executions in Europe at the same times in history were also responsible for a large number of deaths).
So, it is natural to include references to ritual human sacrifice, particularly in stories dealing with the Aztecs, because it was a fact of the culture. But I don't want to give a disproportionate feel of the practice in the culture, because I am a big fan of it and I know better than to define the entirety of the culture by such practices, even though they were spiritually important.
Any thoughts on portraying or even referencing the practice, in short stories or novels. In short stories, a reference or portrayal of human sacrifice is likely to take on a more significant importance relative to the rest of the story, simply because of the nature of the short story.
One issue that arises is human sacrifice. It is less of an issue in stories set in the Maya culture (though it exists there), but is more of an issue among the Aztec culture, where human sacrifice figured heavily into their religion (specifically with respect to the Sun) and was an important part of the religious duty of the people.
I have encountered many who overstate the human sacrifice in these cultures, trying to paint the civilizations are savage and barbaric (which they were not; they were sophisticated, with well-developed language, literature, art, and the like). On the other hand, I've encountered sources that really down-play the sacrifice, lessening what really appears to have taken place to try to compensate for the "savage" depiction. These sources are also incorrect (at its height, Aztec human sacrifice may have taken on the order or 3000 or 4000 lives in a year, which is not insignificant. Many of the victims were prisoners captured from neighboring areas during fighting. It is important to note, however, that public (and very brutal) executions in Europe at the same times in history were also responsible for a large number of deaths).
So, it is natural to include references to ritual human sacrifice, particularly in stories dealing with the Aztecs, because it was a fact of the culture. But I don't want to give a disproportionate feel of the practice in the culture, because I am a big fan of it and I know better than to define the entirety of the culture by such practices, even though they were spiritually important.
Any thoughts on portraying or even referencing the practice, in short stories or novels. In short stories, a reference or portrayal of human sacrifice is likely to take on a more significant importance relative to the rest of the story, simply because of the nature of the short story.