The civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Maya and Aztecs, practiced human sacrifice as a way to appease their gods and ensure good fortune. They believed that their gods required blood offerings to maintain the balance of nature and to bring forth the sun each day. Human sacrifice was also used to mark special occasions, such as the ascension of a new king, where war captives were tortured and beheaded to symbolize the power and strength of the ruler. Additionally, human sacrifice was seen as a way to ensure good harvests and to bring forth rain. In this sense, human sacrifice played a crucial role in the religious and cultural practices of these civilizations.