It was THEIR civilization. The Romans thought feeding lions should be an entertaining public event. The Aztec wanted one and all to watch human hearts be taken from the donor without anesthetic. Matters little how we see it, it was the way it was done because THEY believed in it. I guess the PETA people would be coming after me if they read my post on the other board and saw where I scared my cat. They may see that as torture.
Using religion, custom, war and many other reasons for what we view as savage behavior, it all falls down to the quest for power. Those who have it will use it. If you don't like it, they will come after you---and so it goes round and round. Look at what power did to Henry VIII. His poor wives worried their little heads over how much power he had.

Pam