Summary of The Codex Mendoza: A facsimile reproduction of Codex Mendoza

The Codex Mendoza is a manuscript written circa 1541–1542 in Mexico and composed of four parts, each of which describes a particular aspect of the Spanish Empire’s earliest presence in what is now Mexico. The codex is a pictorial history of the Aztec empire which would aid the Spanish in comprehending what they were up against whilst subjugating the indigenous peoples in the New World. The facsimile reproduction of Codex Mendoza, published in the late Bernard R. Ortiz de Montellano, includes a preface by Pigafetta and other Spanish writers. It provides a detailed account of Aztec society, culture, and customs, as well as a visual history of the Aztec people. The volume is illustrated with full-color fiber-tipped line drawings of the codex’s original paintings and shows the culture, traditions, and lives of the Aztec people who practiced it.