The ages of discovery began around the 1400s onward. Many nations wanted to prosper, earn fame, or joy. Leaders of nations would sponsor expeditions in exchange for wealth or discoveries. Nations brought by great competition with one another, as like we do now.
As many explorers from different nations began to navigate in search for wealth, land, and spices, so was Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Cabeza de Vaca was born between 1487 and 1492 in Juarez de la Frontera, Spain. He was an orphan during his teenage years, and enrolled in the Spanish military for twenty years. After a civil war in Spain, he was appointed as treasurer and first lieutenant in the Narvaez expedition. Pamfilo de Narvaez had been instructed by Emperor Carlos V to colonize the Gulf Coast of the New World from Florida to Mexico. The Narvaez expedition was a complete failure; many died from starvation, illnesses, or drowned. However, Cabeza de Vaca along with ninety Spaniards and one African slave survived. After being blown off course, they landed in Texas possibly Galveston Island in April of 1528, which they named “Isla de Malhado.” De …show more content…
Some of his men he brought along were unable to swim which were either left behind or later on killed. If De Vaca would have studied weather conditions before leaving, he could have waited until the winds would have settled, or have gone when the winds were at his favor. His ship could have possibly not have been blown off course. One of the factors that caused De Vaca to have an unsuccessful mission was not bringing enough food, hydration, or clothing for the people to make it through the voyage. If there would have been a better leader system which would assign leaders within the group of men to lead and make wise decisions in case of emergency situations, I believe the expedition would have been more