Cabeza De Vaca Dbq Analysis

Sailing and navigating a ship through a storm is difficult, but it’s even harder if the storm is on land. But the storm is not just the weather at its worst, it is instead the hardships faced in the New World. In 1527, Spanish ships full of hundreds of men set sail for the New World. But due to severe currents and winds, the ships landed near modern-day Florida coast. They continued the journey on rafts, but hundreds of men petered out to four, one of which was Cabeza de Vaca. How did Cabeza de Vaca survive? Cabeza de Vaca survived because he had survival skills, success as a healer, and respect for the Native Americans.
Cabeza de Vaca survived due to his survival skills. He crossed the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre Occidental, deserts, and the Rio Grande River. He made this 2,600 mile walk to get to safety in Mexico City. (Doc. A) However, his survival skills came into play when the ships were wrecked. Along with other castaways, he drank water out of hollowed out horse legs, and eventually, when he became a slave to the Native Americans, he “ate what was available such as berries, mollusks, rats, roots, lizards, snakes, and spiders.” Howbeit, he later befriended his captors and learned many

different Indian languages to better communicate with the tribes. When he was lost and naked Cabeza kept a torch while he walked and slept in a pit and placed four fires like the points of a cross around it. (Doc. B) This shows that Cabeza was resourceful and adapted to every challenge that he faced in the New World.
Cabeza also survived due to his success as a healer.

Another man was brought to him that had been wounded by an arrow, and to save him Cabeza took a knife and after much struggle, he pulled out the arrow. This was the first recorded surgery in North America and this was met with great approval and standing in the New World. (Doc. C) When the Spaniards told lies of Cabeza ands other survivors, they were not fully convinced, because they had been healers to them and were humble. (Doc. D)
Cabeza also survived because of his respect for the Native Americans. Cabeza de Vaca befriended his captors and served as a trader among the Indian bands. To better communicate with them, “Cabeza learned four Indian languages, including Charuccos, plus sign language.”

(Doc.B)