From the Codex Mendoza

The Codex Mendoza contains several pieces of artwork made by the Natives that depict their Native culture before European colonists arrived. Modern day historians can use these art pieces to learn about what the Native culture was like before the colonists changed the people. The artwork teaches us that the Native society had similarities and differences when compared to the European societies of the time. Native tribes paid tribute to their Mexican Lords, much like Europeans paid taxes. However, Natives paid with a different currency: they paid with greenstones, bundles of rich feathers of blue, red, green, ect., jaguar skins, large pieces of amber and other items. (Native's seemed to view objects with vivid colors as valuable) They paid tribute to Mexican Lords every 6 months, just like Europeans paid taxes every so often. Their maps differed from Europeans however, because Europeans were more concerned with the accuracy of distances and land masses, while Natives were concerned with historical elements and social organizations on their maps. This artwork shows that Natives had a rich and advanced civilization before Europeans came.