Juan Badiano [SEP] occupation
Juan Badiano
Juan Badiano (1484-after 1552) was the translator of Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis ca. 1552, from Nahuatl to Latin. The book was a compendium of 250 medicinal herbs used by the Aztecs. This compilation was originally done by Martin de la Cruz (another Indian who was baptised with this Christian name). This catalogue is a historic document, since it shows the Aztec's advancements in medicine. Badiano was born in Xochimilco, Mexico, and taught Latin in the school of Tlatelolco, where he attended
"cold", and "moist", but it is not clear that the Aztecs used these categories. Juan de Esteyneffer's "Florilegio medicinal de todas las enfermedas" compiled European texts and added 35 Mexican plants.
Martín de la Cruz wrote an herbal in Nahuatl which was translated into Latin by Juan Badiano as "Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis" or "Codex Barberini, Latin 241" and given to King Carlos V of Spain in 1552. It was apparently written in haste and influenced by the European occupation of