Codex Mendoza (1541)
How does the author communicate ideas?
Through writing
and through detailed illustrations of events and daily life
What ideas are left out?
Aztec medicine
The history of other indigenous Mexican civilizations
What does it look like?
It is in manuscript format
Contains detailed and stylized illustrations of different aspects of Aztec culture
Very brightly coloured
Pages of writing with a cursive like font
Whose perspective does it reflect?
The indigenous peoples of Mexico both before and after colonization
The Aztec civilization's
Which questions can this answer?
How did the Aztec empire manage to expand and grow?
How was daily life for the average Aztec citizen?
What were the funeral customs for the Aztecs?
What did Aztec warriors wear?
How did Aztec Education work?
How did the Aztec empire manage its city-states?
Whose perspectives are omitted/ challenged?
The perspectives of other indigenous civilizations within Mexico
Who wrote it? Why?
Indigenous Mexican scribes and Spanish interpreters
It was commissioned by the first viceroy of new Spain to explain the recently colonized region's history to the king of Spain.
What are the big ideas?
The forming of major city-states like Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tacloban
The expansion of the early Aztec Empire
The honors and tributes paid by the conquered, Textiles, foodstuffs, shields etc
Aztec Birth and funeral rituals
Aztec Education
Roles of women and men within Aztec society