Apr 07, 2020 the florentine codex on the world digital library. Commonly referred to as the florentine codex, the manuscript consists of 12 books devoted to different topics. The volume chapters address a range of subjects, from nahua sacred beliefs, moral discourse, and natural history to the florentine artists models and the manuscripts reception in europe. Aztec feather painters from the digital edition of the. The florentine codex remains a fascinating view into the culture of the aztecs, more aptly known as the nahua. Aztec feather painters from the digital edition of the florentine codex. The codex has over 2,000 illustrations in its 2,400 pages and in book 12 of the codex we find the 8 signs that supposedly predicted the doom to befall the aztecs. The florentine codex is divided by subject area into twelve books and includes over 2,000 illustrations drawn by nahua artists in the sixteenth century. Written in nahuatl with translation and summaries in spanish and latin, the book consists of 12 sections discussing the history, culture, and religion of the nahua people. In some cases, the ritual function of musical instruments is reflected in the aztec nahuatl terminology. Part xii monographs of the school of american research, number 14, part xii. An analysis of florentine codex in aztec empire essay.
Florentine codex project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Mar 26, 2020 in 1577, a generation after the conquest of mexico, a unique illustrated book was completed. Book x is about aztec society and covers such subjects as the virtues and vices of the people, food and drink, the parts of the human body, and illnesses and remedies. Mar 18, 2020 montezumas death and cremation from the florentine codex. The 16th century codex was created, in part, during a. Aztec gods from the digital edition of the florentine codex. Birthing was revered as a battle of sorts and the new child as a captured captive. Book eleven is a beautifully written and careful documentation of all of the animals and plants known to the aztecs in the sixteenth century. A vital record of mexican indigenous created under. Anderson and charles dibble, following in the tradition of nineteenthcentury mexican scholars francisco del paso y troncoso and joaquin garcia icazbalceta. Part xi monographs of the school of american research, number 14, part xi.
The atamalcualiztli ceremony included dances and deity impersonation. The florentine codex, a unique manuscript dating from 1577 preserved in the medicea laurenziana library in florence, is for the first time available online in digital format, the library of congress announced today. A detail from book 9 of the florentine codex shows a feather worker preparing tropical bird feathers for a feather mosaic. Bibliography includes bibliographical references p. The excerpts from the florentine codex in our book, the midwife addresses the woman who has died in childbirth and the midwife addresses the newly delivered woman, provide fascinating examples of gender treatment in aztec society. Of the collection the most prominent are book 1, which is dedicated to the gods, book 2 to the ceremonies, book 10 to general history, book. Book twelve contains a meticulous retelling of the spanish conquest of mexico, from the days leading up to the first arrival of cortes to the eventual submission of the tlatilulcans, the. Book iii deals with the origin of the gods, in particular tezcatlipoca and quetzalcoatl, and includes appendices on the afterlife and on education. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico is found in book xii of the florentine codex.
The 8 omens of montezuma and the end of the aztec empire. Tecciztecatl, the god of the moon, emerging out of a shell trumpet with two spears in his hand. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Book four delves into the aztecs complex astrological beliefs.
General history of the things of new spain by fray. The three bound volumes of the florentine codex are found in the biblioteca medicealaurenziana, palat. The origin two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture have translated sahaguns monumental and encyclopedic study of native life in mexico at the time of the spanish conquest. Two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture hav. The 16th century codex was created, in part, during a pandemic.
Exactly when and under what circumstances the book traveled from madrid to florence is unclear. The florentine codex shanthis cca world lit course. Anderson were the first to translate the codex from nahuatl to english, in a project that took 30 years to complete. Florentine codex perhaps the most important aztec codex which details aztec life before the spanish conquest is the florentine codex. A vital record of mexican indigenous created under quarantine. The florentine codex ultimately yields new perspectives on the nahua world several decades after the fall of the aztec empire.
Aztec farmers left planting and right cultivating corn with the assistance of a wooden digging tool. The city of tenochtitlan was founded on june 20, 25 and now shares its location with the modern capital city of mexico. We refer to the work of sahagun and his collaborators as the florentine codex because of its presentday location. Book three describes in detail the excitingand sometimes bloodyorigin stories of uitzilopochtli, titlacauan, and quetzalcoatl. When it was completed in 1579, they sent the codex to madrid, where it was likely meant to train spanish missionaries about nahua people and customs. Much of the book is a tale of the arrival of the spaniards in tenochtitlan, the encounter with moctezuma, the roust of the small band of conquistadors, and the siege and fall of the aztec capital city. The florentine codex an encyclopedia of the nahua world in. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Book eleven is a beautifully written and careful documentation of all of the animals and. It was a magnificent example of aztec architecture. Dec 09, 20 the excerpts from the florentine codex in our book, the midwife addresses the woman who has died in childbirth and the midwife addresses the newly delivered woman, provide fascinating examples of gender treatment in aztec society. The florentine codex has been the major source of aztec life in the years before the spanish conquest.
Sutherland the florentine codex is an ancient document that describes the life of the aztecs, their religious ceremonies, astronomy, economy, social order, the conquest of mexico and customs in precolumbian mexico. The foremost nahuatl conquest account is book twelve of the florentine codex. The florentine codex is divided into twelve books, with each book dedicated to a specific aspect of aztec life. Mar 26, 2020 a detail from book 9 of the florentine codex shows a feather worker preparing tropical bird feathers for a feather mosaic. Informed by maya and other indian peoples to the east of the capital of the great aztec empire lying in the central mexican highlands, the spaniards reached the coast of veracruz on april 21, 1519. This work is an encyclopedic compilation that aims to inform the readers about the life and culture of the aztec people. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. General history of the things of new spain by fray bernardino. World digital library adds florentine codex library of congress. Ebook florentine codex as pdf download portable document format. Ebook florentine codex as pdf download portable document. Montezumas death and cremation from the florentine codex. Aztec women and child, florentine codex book 4 click on image to enlarge those many wives and concubines that had arrived as prisoners of war, or been turned over to the mexica by their own people as a peace offering in order to prevent a war with the mexica, or end one precipitously had the most to lament.
Of the collection the most prominent are book 1, which is dedicated to the gods, book 2 to the ceremonies, book 10 to general history, book 11 to earthly things, and book 12 to the conquest. World digital library adds florentine codex library of. The florentine codex has 12 sections on subjects such as the gods and ceremonies. Read and learn for free about the following article. Book one describes in detail the gods of the aztec people, including uitzilopochtli, tlatoc, and quetzalcoatl. It was celebrated every eight years on the day one flower, when the cycle of the planet venus crossed the 365day sun cycle. Called the florentine codex, because its housed in florence, the manuscript documents the culture, politics, natural science, and history of the aztecs a group of nahuatlspeaking people who dominated large parts of central mexico between 1428 and 1521. Featherworking scenes, florentine codex, book 9, ca. Book four delves into the aztec s complex astrological beliefs. In 2012 highresolution scans of all volumes of the florentine codex, in nahuatl and spanish, with illustrations, were added to the world digital library. The world of the aztecs, in the florentine codex in. Oct 31, 2012 the florentine codex, a unique manuscript dating from 1577 preserved in the medicea laurenziana library in florence, is for the first time available online in digital format, the library of congress announced today.