Cabeza De Vaca Dbq

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How Did The Lucky Spaniard Stay Alive?

Cabeza De Vaca was one of the only people to survive the Narvaez Expedition. He walked over 2,400 miles to make it to Mexico City. The Narvaez Expedition started with 400 Spaniards in November of 1527, and after facing some tricky winds and landing in modern-day Tampa Bay, Florida then drifting ashore on a raft in Galveston Island, as well as almost 8 years of slavery and walking, only 4 explorers made it to Mexico City, Cabeza De Vaca being one of them. So, how did he stay alive? Cabeza survived because of his success as a healer, his respect for the Native Americans, and his wilderness skills. Cabeza survived because of his success as a healer. In 1535, Cabeza performed the first documented surgery in North America on a wounded Native American. “Here they brought me a man, and they told me that a long time ago he had been wounded through the right shoulder with an arrow, and the point of the arrow rested over his heart.” (Document C)
Then later in the excerpt, it says “ And two days later, I removed the two stitches from the Indian and he was healed.” (Document C) This shows Cabeza had great success as a healer, considering he performed the entire surgery with a knife and a deer bone. Cabeza De Vaca also stayed alive because of his …show more content…
In 1534, Cabeza suffered great Cold and Despair. “...He lit a branch in the dying flames and kept the torch burning as he walked. Each night he huddled in a hole that he’d dug and “around that pit placed four fires like the points of a cross.’” (Document B) This shows Cabeza had great wilderness skills from his days in the military, and was able to use these on his way to survival. Also in Document B, it says “Cabeza ate whatever was available, including berries, mollusks, rats… snakes, and spiders. This supports his survival skills because he was willing to eat anything and everything to

Cabeza De Vaca Dbq

to survive 2 years with 3 friends and hardly any resources. Cabeza De Vaca was alone with 3 other survivors for 2 years trying to get to Mexico. He had to survive harsh weathers, Indian tribes, and animals. How did Cabeza survive? Cabeza survived the journey because of the way he treated indians, his success as a healer, and his wilderness skills. Cabeza survived the Indians by the way he treated them and the way he respected them. “Cabeza learned four Indian languages, including Charrucos, plus sign…

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Cabeza De Vaca Dbq Analysis

Spanish ships left the port of Seville and set sail for the New World with Cabeza de Vaca, the conquistador, on board as the expedition’s treasurer. After two difficult months, they arrived at Apalachee Bay with no treasure, no ships in sight, and little food. Cabeza de Vaca: How did he survive? Cabeza de Vaca survived because of success as a healer, respect for the Native Americans and wilderness skills. Cabeza de Vaca survived because of success as a healer. “Here they brought me a man, and they…

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Cabeza De Vaca Dbq Essay

Cabeza de Vaca was lost, weak, and starving as he was eaten alive by a swarm of mosquitoes with each step he took. Cabeza de Vaca was in this position because he was part of an expedition which was originally sailing towards the New World. When they shipwrecked in modern day Florida, they had to sacrifice many of their possessions. This included killing their horses for supplies and food, as stated in the Background Essay. Cabeza de Vaca used many methods in order to survive, and the most important…

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Cabeza De Vaca Dbq Analysis

Cabeza de vaca was the most advanced for his time just think a hundred years later the mortality rate was the highest. The doctoring skill that most had was just sad. Now think if you being put in a situation you would be die in about ten hours. He survived by his respect ,his healing of the indians ,and his wilderness skills. Cabeza de vaca survived because his respect for the Charrucos were the ones that respected him they ended up following him for 21 months if that is not trust and respect…

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Cabeza De Vaca How Did He Survive Analysis

The Heroism of Explorers Exploration is necessary for the human race in order to prevent stagnation. The explorers referenced in A History of US by Joy Hakim and the essay “Cabeza de Vaca: How Did He Survive?” by the DBQ project, including Ferdinand Magellan and Christopher Columbus, can be called heroes using the definition of heroism provided by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Heroism”. I will use a definition of heroism paraphrased from Emerson: ‘Heroism is having the courage to do things others…

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