We refer to the work of sahagun and his collaborators as the florentine codex because of its presentday location. This lesson explores sahaguns life, as well as the creation of the codex. Commonly called the florentine codex, the manuscript came into the. Exactly when and under what circumstances the book traveled from madrid to florence is unclear. This volume contains a reproduction of the 1840 published edition in spanish of this version, and a reproduction, transcript, and translation of a nineteenth century manuscript of it. Book 1, the gods book 1, the gods anderson, arthur j. This lesson explores sahagun s life, as well as the creation of the codex. An early version of sahaguns account of the spanish conquest of mexico is incorporated in his florentine codex 157677, but he kept revising it until 1585. How it got from spain to italy and into the laurentian library in florence we can only conjecture. The manuscript, now known to scholars as the florentine codex, is of inestimable value not only for its lavish illustrations and plentiful information about prehispanic. Sahagun organized the codex into 12 topicspecific books and included a foreword entitled primeros memoriales. Aztec farmers left planting and right cultivating corn with the assistance of a wooden digging tool. 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. A general history of the things of new spain 2nd revised ed.
During this period, the university at salamanca was strongly influenced by erasmus, and was a center for spanish franciscan intellectual life. The medici family of florence, italy, assumed ownership of the manuscript no later than 1588. Book one describes in detail the gods of the aztec people, including uitzilopochtli, tlatoc, and quetzalcoatl. 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. The bestpreserved manuscript is commonly referred to as the florentine codex, as the codex is held in the laurentian library of florence, italy. The florentine codex viewer world digital library stay safe and healthy. General history of the things of new spain by fray bernardino. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Book two gives comprehensive accounts of the religious ceremonies and days of feasting during the time of the aztecs, including prayers, songs, and the duties and roles of aztecs inside the. Two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture have translated sahaguns. Dibble formatbinding hardcover book condition used very good jacket condition no jacket binding.
Two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture have translated sahaguns monumental and encyclopedic study. Book three describes in detail the excitingand sometimes bloody origin stories of uitzilopochtli, titlacauan, and quetzalcoatl. An early version of sahagun s account of the spanish conquest of mexico is incorporated in his florentine codex 157677, but he kept revising it until 1585. Two of the worlds leading scholars of the aztec language and culture hav. Florentine codex book nine the merchants translated from the aztec into english w notes and illustrations sahagun fray bernardino charles dibble et al translator published by school of american research, santa fe 1959. General history of the things of new spain, introductions and indices, arthur j. The general history of the things of new spain, by bernardino. Fray sahaguns work is without parallel and this is the only hardcover edition of his. As he wrote in the prologue to book i of his work, the mexicans are held to. World digital library adds florentine codex library of congress. Florentine codex, general history of the things of new spain. The author is professor of anthropology at the university of chicago.