Cabeza De Vaca

The Age of Discovery Spanish and Portuguese Empire in North and South America

The Age of Discovery  The expansion of Spain and Portugal  Conquistadors found new trade routes  Columbus discovered America in 1492  Colonization of America  Many conquistadors explored the New World: America

Spanish Explorations

Cabeza de Vaca  Born in Jerez, Spain, 1492  Raised in a noble family  His grandfather was a conquistador  Cabeza De Vaca means “cow’s head”  Died in Sevilla, 1559

The Fleet  Fleet included –Five ships of 600 men –Officers Cabeza de Vaca Treasurer and High Sheriff Alonzo Enriquez, Alonzo de Solis, Juan Xuarez

The Journey  Hispaniola for one month  Santiago, Cuba, and then Trinidad  West coast of Florida near Tampa Bay  North to explore with small amounts of biscuits and bacon to eat; ran out of food  By the end of the summer, 100 had died from disease, starvation or Indian attack

Disasters  Decided to go to Cuba.  Men made 5 rafts on which they sailed west, hoping to reach a Spanish settlement in Mexico. –Three rafts sank –Two surviving rafts (carrying 80 men) landed at Galveston Island (off what is now Texas) in fall of 1528

Galveston  Only 15 men survived the cold winter.  Traveled west, walking along the Colorado River.  By 1533, there were only 4 survivors (including Cabeza de Vaca ) –Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca – Estevanico – a slave from North Africa – Alonzo del Castillo Maldonado – Andres Dorantes de Carranza

Cabeza de Vaca’s Company  Was enslaved by some Indian tribes along the way –Helped by others  These 4 men were the first non-natives to travel in southwestern North America.  Reached the Spanish settlement of Culiacan in early 1536

Mexico City  Later that year they reached Mexico City, where they were welcomed by the Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza.  After serving as a Mexican territorial governor, Cabeza de Vaca returned to Spain in 1537.

 In 1536 travels to Mexico City and welcomed by Hernan Cortes. Cabeza de Vaca was angered by the mistreatment of the Native Americans at the hands of the Spanish.  In 1537 returns home to Spain and to write about his experiences. –Noted the appalling treatment of Indians by the Spanish  In 1540 appointed governor of the LaPlata regions in Argentina. Later Timeline

Return to Spain  In 1542 book published.  In 1543 introduces a plan of fair treatment of the Natives; men rebel against him.  Held prisoner until 1544 when returns to Spain.  Cabeza de Vaca accused of abusing power (1544)  Loses office of Governor of Argentina.

♦ Book about experiences in South America the inspiration of Hernando De Soto and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. ♦ Sentenced to live out the rest of his days in exile in North Africa; Emperor Charles V rescinded the order and Cabeza de Vaca was able to return to Spain.  Died from illness in End Days

Works Cited ♦Bannon, John Francis. “Cabeza de Vaca, Alvar Nunez.” Encyclopedia Americana Grolier Online. 30 Nov ♦“Cabeza de Vaca.” Elizabethan Era. 30 Nov ♦“Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca.” America the Beautiful Grolier Online. 30 Nov ♦Smith, Buckingham. Relation of Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. New York: University Microfilms, ♦Mitchell, J. Leslie. Earth Conquerors. New York: Simon and Schuster, ♦Cabeza de Vaca Explorations, Map. Encyclopedia Americana. Ed. Grolier Online. 29 Nov ♦Cabeza de Vaca. America the Beautiful. Scholastic Lib. 29 Nov ♦Cabeza de Vaca. 29 Nov