Hey is that....
Yes that was the way the "barbarians" misunderstood the old teaching. In Toltec teaching
we give away our heart to spirit, it is a part of reducing our little ego in order to connect with the Spirit but the Aztecs took it literally.
However it is well known that the "bloody" Aztecs was a exaggerated report from the Spanish conqistadores. To report these human sacrifies it would be more politically correct to bring Christianity and take over the place. Actually the aztecs had many enemies that cooperated with the Spaniards and so was the time after the fights too, so that the Mexican people had influence and prominent representation in mundane affairs. They very much built the society together.