Cabeza De Vaca Research Paper

Being one of four survivors out of a crew of 250 on the expedition Cabeza de Vaca was a part of, was not a walk in the park. Cabeza was on a ship setting sail for the New World, in 1527, when his ship was blown off course and landed him in Galveston Island, Texas. The Native Americans living in Galveston eventually became his slave owners for two years before he escaped. He encountered many obstacles including starvation, thirst, unfamiliarity, slavery, etc. He endured all of these over a course of seven years, before he made it out alive. The question that remains is, how did Cabeza de Vaca survive all of this? Cabeza survived, because he was very resourceful, he had the advantage of being able to

I believe that Cabeza de Vaca was able to survive due to his communication skills, relationship with the Native Americans, and his position as a Shaman, or more commonly known as a healer. Cabeza de Vaca was able to survive due to his communication skills. Cabeza de Vaca was able to pick up 5 languages including sign language on his journey to Mexico City (Doc. B). That means in 2 years (Doc A) he learned 5 languages! Since Cabeza knew this many languages, it is likely that he was able to talk to most Native Americans he saw.

Surviving the harsh environments of Texas, like deserts, mountains, indian territory and lack of resources and food. It is very hard to fight through all of this physically, but most importantly, mentally. Cabeza de Vaca left the port of Seville in 1527 to the new world, to establish settlements. When he got to the gulf of Mexico currents made the ships with 300 men, off course and they shipwrecked near today’s Tampa Bay. Here's the real question, how did Cabeza De Vaca end up surviving with only 3 fellow men? Cabeza de Vaca survived because of his wilderness skills, his success as a healer, and his respect for the native Americans.

Cabeza de Vaca went through many things that gave him a new outlook. He was a slave and then considered to be a scared healer. On his return to Spain Cabeza de Vaca reported of the inhumane treatment of the natives. New laws about the treatment of natives were taken.

Cabeza de Vaca, a conquistador, shipwreck in the Island of Bad Luck. A year later on 4 out of the 250 men survive having nothing but each other. After many year of being a slave, working endlessly and never eating, he wanted quits. Him and 3 other survivors went to Mexico City to escape this nightmare. So how did Cabeza survive his journey? With god by his side and the hope of living was not the only reason why he survive, some main reasons why he survived was by his wilderness skill being amazing, he was considered a shaman to the Indians, and his ability to use his communication skills.

The book “A Land So Strange” by Andrés Reséndez basically illustrates 8 years of long odyssey from what is now Tampa, Florida to Mexico City on Cabeza de Vaca’s perspective. Cabaza de Vaca along with his companions named Andres Dorante, Alonso del Castillo, and Estebanico, are survivors of failed expedition to New World from Spain during 16th century. Unlike other members from the expedition, these four members found a way to live with native Indian tribes to survive. They were slaves of Indians and treated cruelly all the time. However, after long period of time of being slaves, they decided to make escape to Spanish territory. During their fugitive period, they had chance to help injured Indians. Their knowledge of certain medicine,

On June 17, 1527, Cabeza de Vaca set sail on the order to conquer and govern the lands from the Rio Grande to the cape of Florida. However, during his journey he encountered much devastation such as the wrecking of his ship which resulted in his separation from the majority of his Christian companions. Praying to God after every ordeal, Cabeza routinely sought after his Christian religion to guide him through his unexpected journey. While traveling through the interior of America, he also encountered many native tribes which inhabited the land. While most of the Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century spread their religion through warlike ways and rearranged societies

However, he then goes on to say how deeply moved they were, which is somewhat ironic. It's almost as if Cabeza de Vaca and his followers know that the Indians aren't truly unworthy creatures but they use what everybody already agrees upon to manipulate their supposed worthiness and justify their claims. He also goes on to explain the warrior-like tendencies of the Indians and how fierce and relentless they are. He describes them by saying, "whoever has to fight Indians must take great care not to let them think he is disheartened or that he covets what they own. In war they must be treated very harshly, for should they notice either fear or greed, as a people they know how to bide their time waiting for revenge and take courage from their enemies' fears. After using up all their arrows, they part, each going his own way, without attempting pursuit, although one side might have more men than the other. Such is their custom." (68) They have these customs that are very unnatural and are not normative behavior. Cabeza de Vaca refers to the customs of the Charruco Indians with great

According to Document B, Cabeza De Vaca learned four Indian languages. Also in Document C, it states that this cure gave us a very great reputation among them throughout the land. It shows that they care on what they think of them, so they learned their language which is a sign of respect. It also shows that since he was a healer he took the time out of his day to heal the people that were wounded who are Native American. This shows that not only did he respect the Native Americans, but the Native Americans respected him. He survived by learning their language and healing their wounded

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and his companions, Andres Dorantes, Alonzo del Castillo Maldonado, and Estevan were the sole survivors of a four hundred men expedition. The group of them went about the friendly Indian tribes preforming miracles of healing, with the power of Christianity. At one time five sick persons were brought into the camp, and the Indians insisted that Castillo should cure them. At sunset he pronounced a blessing over the sick, and all the Christians united in a prayer to God, asking him to restore the sick to health, and on the following morning there was not a sick person among them. De Vaca and his companions reached the Pacific coast where the Indians, showed signs of civilization, living in houses covered with straw, wearing cotton clothes and dressed skins, with belts and ornaments of stone, and cultivating their fields, but had been driven therefrom by the brutal Spanish soldiery and had taken refuge in the mountains, de Vaca and his comrades, being regarded as emissaries from the Almighty, exercised such power over these untutored savages that, at their bidding, the Indians returned to their deserted habitations, and began again to cultivate their fields, the assurance being given them by de Vaca and his companions that henceforth they would

Cabeza de Vaca changed drastically though his journey. When he starts off he’s very much focused on doing this for God and king, but he slowly becomes less concerned with that. He also develops a more accepting and worldly mind. When he first meets Native Americans he terrified that they’re going to sacrifice him#, because that’s the stereotype of the natives, but they are in fact very kind and offer him and his men fish and roots to eat. However, the Cabeza de Vaca from the end of the book would know better. He develops a lot of empathy for the natives and their plight at the hands of the Spanish,

When Cabeza de Vaca came to America he never thought he would get captured by Indians. Or have to use his patience, healing powers and his awesome survival skills. But he had a purpose, and he achieved this goal. Making his country very proud, and that’s what it’s almost all about. He fought through his pain instead of feeling it. Dying of old age, not of death, in his proud country, always having a story after him. He was a brave explorer, a skillful survivor, and a awesome man. He will always be symbol to his country of that

While on the journey, Cabeza de Vaca uses a gloomy tone in his report La Relacion. Some people believe in God and some do not. After the crash de Vaca explains in his narrative ,“Nothing but God’s great mercy kept us from going down” (de Vaca 73). He believed that they are still alive because God is protecting them and even though some of the spaniards died God is still protecting them. Death is very scary for a lot of people because no one knows what happens after a someone dies. In other words, de vaca writes, “ I would have welcomed death rather than see so many around me in such condition” (deVaca 73). de Vaca was feeling very terrible when he said this and did not want to be alive and would rather be dead more than anything while writing this in his narrative.

Spain sought out to colonize the New World and, most importantly, influence Christianity. This writing is historically significant because it validates the interactions of the aggressive Christians doing and the innocent Indians, which is eventually revealed to the Spanish public. Certain use of pathos in Cabeza de Vaca’s perspective is the most persuasive tool in his journal. His own experience in land where he too was enslaved, like how the Indians were to the Spanish, justifies his own thoughts and empathy for the victims. His accounts as a witness prompt readers to believe his word. Cabeza de Vaca’s insight onto how the foreigners treated the natives and why they were inclines to retaliate, was intended to reveal the truth. This line stated directly to his audience explains his betrayal, lastly exposing the Spanish men: “This clearly shows how the design of men sometimes miscarry. We went on with the idea of insuring the liberty of the Indians…when we believed it to be

Cabeza de Vaca had arrived shipwrecked on the coast of Florida, cold, hungry, and betrayed. He had almost no provisions or men left. With almost nothing the Indians had found him, clothed him, fed him, and tried to help in anyway they could. Of course de Vaca didn't spit in their face. He was kind to them and appreciated the help. That may be a reason why the Indians had received him differently then the slavers; The slave traders had arrived clothed in fine materials with plenty of provisions, and no need of help. But another reason would be the motive of coming to the New world. Cabeza had come just to explore and find out more about the New World, while the slavers had come to take away, and possibly kill, somebody's mother or son or brother. The Indians had right away knew to fear the slavers.