Beyond the Codices

This insightful work, Beyond the Codices, reveals the everyday lives of indigenous communities in colonial Mexico through lesser-known Nahuatl texts.

In Beyond the Codices, readers are introduced to a rich and often overlooked collection of Nahuatl texts that provide insight into the cultural and social transformations experienced by indigenous communities in colonial Mexico. While traditional scholarship has primarily focused on pre-Columbian literature, this book shifts the lens to everyday documents such as wills, land transactions, municipal council minutes, tax records, and petitions. These types of records reveal a practical perspective on life after the conquest, showcasing how indigenous people navigated the complexities of colonial society while adapting their traditions to fit new circumstances.

The authors aim to make these lesser-known, unpublished, and linguistically challenging texts more accessible. By presenting a selection of transcribed, translated, and annotated materials, Beyond the Codices serves as a guide for scholars looking to explore this 'second world' of Nahuatl documentation. Although these records may initially appear daunting due to their formal and legalistic nature, the book provides a framework for understanding them more easily once readers master a model document. Key sources, including the Coyoacan papers and UCLA's McAfee Collection, are utilized to unlock this important repository of indigenous colonial history.

As part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, this title honors the mission of University of California Press to elevate scholarly voices and ensure their impact. Originally published in 1976, Beyond the Codices continues to contribute to our understanding of the intricate relationship between indigenous and colonial cultures.