The codex was dutifully written under the direction of Spanish officials in Mexico City alongside several Aztec scribes and artists. Once it was complete, it was named after Mendoza as its first known owner. In the 17th century, the Codex Mendoza found its way to the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford and has been studied ever since. Today, this exceptional document is regarded as one of the most important surviving artifacts of the Aztec civilization, and scholars of history, anthropology, and art still study it with great interest.