Human Sacrifices

Was watching a National Geographic show about the Mayans and their human sacrifices, their games in which the captain of the losing teams were beheaded. Sacrifices often went willingly in societies that practiced human sacrifices. They were also highly evolved in their astronomical, technological and spiritual knowledge. This made me wonder, did they know that "the end", ultimate enlightenment and life everlasting would not come in their lifetime, would not be available to them. Thus, to make their lives more meaningful and deaths more significant, they strove to be noticed, remembered by gods and men?
    Whereas less developed societies, each life was or became precious because each had the potential to become enlightened and be a vessel of life everlasting? Especially now, so close to the "end" or believing ourselves to be, we strive for longevity, to be amongst those who can/will be saved?
   Maybe those past cultures were not simply bloodthirsty and ignorant of life's sanctity. Maybe it was very sacred and holy to them and that is why they strove to be "seen", not just in being sacrifices, but in all they did. Could "soul paths" to the stars in monuments and burial places not be due to the belief that they would travel in death, but were instead pathways to the gods' attention in some cases? Did they attempt to align themselves with the eyes and sights of their makers?
  Of course, now, everyone's path has been chosen, their fates are sealed and eventualities determined. The powers that be know where everyone is going, where each soul is headed. Nothing deemed useful to them is going to be unnecessary baggage, needed burden. Human life will be cheap except for the vessels that will be continuing on for a higher purpose. Those will be protected at all costs and deemed precious.