This process is embodied in the characteristics and physical appearance of the florentine codex. Take a quick interactive quiz on the concepts in aztec florentine codex. Nov 15, 2016 eagle and jaguar warriors, florentine codex book. The result of this work, as is expressed by sahagun in the introduction to book vi of the codex florentine, was a work in two columns with numerous illustrations, most of them in color.
Commonly referred to as the florentine codex, the manuscript consists of 12 books devoted to different topics. Adjoining houses, florentine codex book 11 click on image to enlarge if you had visited tenochtitlan in the sixteenth century, you would eventually have stepped from one of the thousands of sunlit courtyards into one of the surrounding calli, windowless adobe rooms whose doorways always opened onto the flowerfilled patios. Painters, pigments, and the making of the florentine codex. Book eleven is a beautifully written and careful documentation of all of the animals and. The majority of the codex was illustrated with colored images with the exception of book 6, but the artists abruptly ceased doing so in the middle of book 11 after folio 330v when images were rendered exclusively in black ink drawings with gray shading. The editors have, i repeat, wisely limited themselves to the florentine codex with the one exception noted above. The digital florentine codex latin america visualized. The general history of the things of new spain, by bernardino. Birthing was revered as a battle of sorts and the new child as a captured captive.
The view from the metate women and the aztec world camilla townsend, professor of history at rutgers university in new brunswick, new jersey, gave this paper at moctezumas feast, a special study session at the british museum 211109. The nahuas recorded their culture and history in their own language in the right text column, and sahagun had the nahuatl translated into spanish in the left text column. Book 11, earthly things, is a comprehensive natural history of the valley of mexico based on precortesian aztec knowledge. Composed of twelve books, a total of some 2,400 pages of text accompanied by a staggering 2,468 ink and color illustrations, and organized by individual topic e. Sahaguns florentine codex, a little known aztecan natural history of the valley of mexico. The author is professor of anthropology at the university of chicago. Book xi, the longest in the codex, is a treatise on natural history.
The codex was compiled over the last four decades of sahaguns life. The florentine codex is a 16thcentury ethnographic research study in mesoamerica by the. Florentine codex, general history of the things of new spain. Sahaguns florentine codex, a little known aztecan natural history.
Aztec gods from the digital edition of the florentine codex. Said work was known as general or universal history of the things of new spain. A general history of the things of new spain 2nd ed. This is a new facsimilar edition that casa editorial aldus coediting with libros mas cultura cleanly brings forth. 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. This particular book is about the spanish invasion of mexico in 1519 and their eventual consolidation of power in the capital.
My translation this version of the codice florentine is based on the version of the codex held in florence as well as on the summary of the original codex. The threevolume manuscript of the florentine codex has been intensely analyzed and. Other articles where florentine codex is discussed. 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. Two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture h.
How it got from spain to italy and into the laurentian library in florence we can only conjecture. Following the traditional division of knowledge common to many european encyclopedic works, the florentine codex deals with all things divine or rather idolatrous, human and natural of new spain. These practice questions will help you master the material. Aztec feather painters from the digital edition of the. Introductions, sahaguns prologues and interpolations, general bibliography, general indices. We name it also today as the codex florentine because, as is referred before. 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.
The florentine codex shanthis cca world lit course. The florentine codex has 12 sections on subjects such as the gods and ceremonies. Some thoughts on sahagun and the florentine codex mv lindsey. Read and learn for free about the following article. The general history of the things of new spain 237 elapsed between beginning and end of this formidable enterprise. Earthly things monographs of the school of american re volume 11 9781607811664. This codex is one of a large number of sahaguntian source materials known by report and. Thus, having dealt with higher beings and humans, sahagun turns to. Florentine codex florentine codex is divided by subject area into twelve books and includes over 2,000 illustrations drawn by nahua artists in the sixteenth century. Each page of the florentine codex contains parallel columns of nahuatl and spanish text. Archaeological and historical evidence florentine codex.
Book eight lists the rulers of tenochtitlan from the first, acamapichtli, to the sixteenth, don cristobal cecepatic. Book one describes in detail the gods of the aztec people, including uitzilopochtli, tlatoc, and quetzalcoatl. General history of the things of new spain by fray bernardino. Photos of pages from the sar archives, sar press, book projects, florentine codex, book 11, part 1, chapter 1 earthly things, left, and book. Florentine codex, book 12, ch 11 fcbk12ch11f17r00 folio 17 recto. 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 21, 20 florentine codex, book 2 last week i decided to take a look at the wikipedia entry for the florentine codex to see if it needed any help. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website.
Michelle rago, 202 7071634 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. We have new and used copies available, in 0 edition starting at. 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. Sahaguns florentine codex, a little known aztecan natural. General history of the things of new spain by fray.
As known, in this sophisticated era, technology will ease you in doing some activities. Although it has been amply appreciated and studied since the late nineteenth century, its ongoing ethnographic, linguistic, and historical utility cannot be overstated. This is book 12, chapter 11 of the florentine codex, also known as the general history of the things of new spain. World digital library adds florentine codex library of. Mar 16, 2016 this process is embodied in the characteristics and physical appearance of the florentine codex. Papers of the school of american research by edgar l hewett and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Florentine codex, book 12, ch 11 early nahuatl library. It can be among your early morning readings florentine codex. World digital library adds florentine codex library of congress. The general history of the things of new spain, by. If youre seeing this message, it means were having. Book eleven is a beautifully written and careful documentation of all of the animals and plants known to the aztecs in the sixteenth century.
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