Comparison between Aztec and Mixtec Artifacts
Comparison
Even though both artifacts are named codices, there is a significant difference between them. This difference separates the purpose, format, and language of the codices dramatically. The Florentine Codex, if not yet inferred, is written in Spanish, while the Mixtec codices are written in the Mixtec languages. Both, fortunately, give detailed information about the Aztec and Mixtec civilization. The Spanish written codex explains what the Spanish knew about the Aztec civilization, and drew parallels to many things in classical mythology and the eastern world for the readers to interpret things correctly. Dissimilarly, the Mixtec codex does not describe the Mixtec civilization, but has written records of events, rulers, alliances, enemies, fights, ceremonies, etc. Fortunately for us, since little was known of these civilizations, the codices greatly helped us discover and understand many things about the two civilizations. Without the written records, there would be many more speculative things about the Aztecs and Mixtecs.
Source
Pohl, J. (n.d.). Ancient books: Mixtec group codices. Retrieved from http://www.famsi.org/research/pohl/jpcodices/pohlmixtec1.html