Codex Mendoza Folio 2 (~1541)

The Codex Mendoza is an Aztec work. It features the history of rulers and their conquests along with pre-Aztec society. Additionally, the codex details everyday life in Aztec culture.  It was commissioned by Spanish officials to document Aztec society before the Spanish conquest. The codex uses Aztec pictograms known as Nahuatl with a Spanish translation. The codex is a collection of 71 pages split into 3 sections: the history of the Aztec people, a list of towns conquered, and pictural depictions of daily life. The specific image featured shows a map of the capital Tenochtitlan. The blue rectangle represents the waters that separate the city from the mainland the X shape is the canals that cut through the city. The eagle in the center comes from a prophecy the capital would be founded where an eagle perched atop a prickly pear cactus. the shield and arrows beneath the cactus allude to military strength and ambition. As this was made for a foreign audience there are translations and clarifications for others to learn about Aztec society.