Was religion important in the lives of early Americans Was religion important in the lives of early Americans? Give specific examples. Yes, religion was important in the lives of early Americans. For example, the Mississippians, Maya, Aztec, and Inca built pyramids and other structures for their gods. They had ceremonies to honor the gods and keep them happy. These ceremonies included human sacrifice. Many early societies were ruled by leaders who, people believed, got their power from gods. The priests were the most learned of the people, and they studied the stars, the moon, and the sun and created a complex mathematical calendar.