Codices

Definition

Codices are ancient manuscripts that were used by various Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Maya, to record important information, rituals, and historical events. These books, typically made of bark paper or deerskin and folded like an accordion, played a vital role in preserving the culture and knowledge of the Maya civilization, especially in areas like writing and calendar systems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Only a few original Maya codices have survived to this day, with the Codex Madrid and Codex Dresden being among the most famous examples.
2. Codices were often written in the Maya hieroglyphic script, which is still being deciphered today by archaeologists and linguists.
3. The content of codices included astronomical data, religious rituals, prophecy, and lineage information, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of Maya society.
4. Codices served as important educational tools for scribes and nobles, passing down knowledge through generations.
5. Spanish colonizers destroyed many Maya codices during their conquest, leading to significant losses in recorded history and cultural understanding.

Review Questions

• How did codices reflect the values and priorities of Maya civilization?
  • Codices reflected the values and priorities of Maya civilization by documenting their religious beliefs, historical events, and astronomical knowledge. The content often focused on rituals and ceremonies that were central to their culture, showing how intertwined religion and daily life were. Furthermore, the use of codices for recording lineage highlights the importance of ancestry and social structure within Maya society.
• Discuss the impact of Spanish colonization on the preservation of Maya codices.
  • Spanish colonization had a devastating impact on the preservation of Maya codices. Many manuscripts were destroyed by Spanish conquerors who viewed them as pagan texts. This destruction led to a significant loss of knowledge about Maya culture, history, and language. The few surviving codices now serve as invaluable resources for understanding the ancient Maya but also emphasize the cultural erasure caused by colonization.
• Evaluate the role that codices played in the continuity of Maya culture after European contact.
  • Codices played a crucial role in maintaining continuity of Maya culture after European contact by serving as repositories of knowledge that were used to educate future generations. Despite the threat of cultural erasure posed by colonization, the preservation and interpretation of these manuscripts allowed descendants to retain aspects of their identity, history, and traditions. Scholars continue to study these codices today to reconstruct aspects of pre-Columbian life and understand how indigenous peoples adapted to changing circumstances while trying to preserve their heritage.

Related terms

hieroglyphics: A writing system used by the Maya that combines logograms and syllabic symbols to convey meaning.

Popol Vuh: A sacred narrative of the K'iche' Maya that details their creation myth, history, and culture, often recorded in codices.

Maya calendar: A complex system of timekeeping developed by the Maya, which was crucial for agricultural, religious, and social purposes and often documented in codices.