Agenda

Presentation of the book Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis. A recipe book of medicinal plants in Mexico, 1552

The Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbis, also known as Códice de la Cruz Badiano, was written in Mexico in 1552, when the Spaniards had already conquered Mexico-Tenochtitlan. It was written in the Nahuatl language by an Mexican Indian nobleman, Martín de la Cruz, and translated into Latin by Juan Badiano at the request of Francisco de Mendoza, son of the Viceroy, to give it as a gift to the King of Spain. It was written to publicize a collection of therapeutic recipes used by the Aztecs. They talk about the plants and treatments for different diseases. 251 plants are presented, of which color drawings of 185 are presented.
The Libellus is an example of the mestizo-medicine, where there is European influence and, of course, the Aztec tradition, of which only the natural aspect is presented, the plant itself, while the religious and polytheistic worldview is left out. The manuscript records pre-Hispanic medical knowledge.

Speakers:
Professor Renata Soukand (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica)
Doctor Martha Eugenia Rodríguez (Università Nazionale Autonoma del Messico)