Newberry Library - Codex Zempoala

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Codex Zempoala

Title Codex Zempoala

Date 1720

Language Nahuatl

Place Mexico--Zempoala, Mexico--Zempoala (Hidalgo)

Subjects Indians of Mexico, Nahuas, Nahuatl language, Real property

Description Box title.
Date from Donald Robertson, in Handbook of Middle American Indians, v. 14, p. 264.
Laid in board covers with bookplates of Brasseur de Bourbourg and Alphonse Pinart on inside front cover.
Accompanied by two boxed sets of photographs, positive and negative, of the Codex.
Study and photoreproduction published as Codex de Zempoala: Techialoyan E 705, manuscrit pictographique de Zempoala, Hidalgo, Mexique / Joaquín Galarza. México : Mission archéologique et ethnologique franc̦aise au Mexique, 1980.
For additional information, consult the Special Collections Info File.

Summary Indian pictorial manuscript with captions in Nahuatl, created during the first half of the 18th century, probably between 1700-1743, documenting land claims in the village of Zempoala. A village land book, compiled by the Nahuas to describe their lands and to guarantee their rights of ownership before Spanish administrators, the Codex records the names, acreage, and boundaries of the districts belonging to the village of Zempoala. It also includes the names and portraits of nobles and functionaries of Zempoala whose families claimed private ownership of lands in the village. Christian settlements, such as Santa Cruz Tecocomulco and San Marcos, are depicted throughout the Codex with drawings of churches, as well as the "tecpan" or city hall; magueys and nopals indicate the principal crops cultivated in the area. Circles represent units of land measurement in "mecatls," and houses indicate the number of tribute-payers in each district.

Extent 16 leaves : amatl paper, col. ill. ; 28 cm

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection, Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection, Edward E. Ayer North and Middle American Indian Linguistics Collection

Citation Please refer to the catalog record or finding aid for citations. Though it is not required when repurposing Newberry content, please use the credit "From the Newberry Library," and provide a link back to the item in our digital collections website. This helps us track how our collections are used, and provides justification for adding more digitized content in the future

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 1472

BibID 136547

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Manifest

Unique Identifier NL11ORII