Cabeza de Vaca Mini Q
The Hook The Gulf Coast of TX is home to perhaps the richest variety of mosquitoes in North America 81 known species. Acting together, mosquitoes can bring down a large animal. Thousands of bites can kill a person. The coastal region of east Texas, south of Galveston, was very difficult to navigate on foot. Abounding wetlands, estuaries, bays, mosquitoes and Indian groups made it an inhospitable place for Spaniards. It is also a historical fact that many conquistadors did not know how to swim. Each summer, bands of nomadic Indians would move to the prickly-pear cactus fields of southeast Texas to gorge themselves on cactus fruit. Juice squeezed from the fruit could also stave off thirst. However, prickly-pear plants only produce fruit every other year, and low rainfall could affect crop yield. A bad season would have had a devastating impact on native tribes.
Background Vocabulary conquistador a Spanish soldier and explorer aka conquerors sailed to the New World in the 16 th century and took control of Mexico, Central America and Peru colonization settling a new land which is still under the control of the mother country back home castaways survivors of a shipwreck flint very hard quartz stone that sparks when struck by steel Charrucos Karankawa Indian group on the east Texas coast whom de Vaca served as a slave for two years
Pre-Bucketing Reason #1 for survival Reason #2 for survival Reason #3 for survival
Document A 1. November 1528 2. Almost two years 3. The jagged route from Galveston Island to Mexico City was at least 2,500 miles, probably more. 4. mountains desert unfriendly Indians absence of towns
Document B 1. Thirst: stored water in hollowed-out horse legs. Hunger: was willing to eat a wide range of food to stay alive, including rats and spiders. 2. Language helps you to get directions, find food and water, and make friends. 3. The cross design may have been an effort to seek God s help. De Vaca was a Spanish Catholic, and this was a very religious time in Spain. Signaling to God probably helped him keep his faith and stay positive. 4. The main idea of the document is that survival depends on many skills, some not so obvious at first. Ability to get fresh water and food is key. So are: language skills developing good relations (trust) with people who can help maintaining hope and faith
Document C 1. 2. The man had an arrowhead lodged in his chest, just above the heart. De Vaca used a knife to cut the out the arrow point. The Indians accompanying the patient The knife in De Vaca s hand The blood The patient s pained expression indicate a deep cut 3. De Vaca and his fellow travelers were apparently quite successful in their healing practices. A reputation for being great healers might guarantee safe passage across the land, at least as long as they were successful. Also, de Vaca and his three companions believed that God had a hand in their powers to heal. It must have given a great boost to their confidence and therefore their survival.
Document D 1. Mounted Spanish conquistadors, or conquerors 2. The Spaniards were trying to catch Indian slaves 3. The Spaniards said that de Vaca and his three friends were of no worth and they, the Spaniards, were the real lords over the Indians. De Vaca and his friends were good and the Spaniards were bad De vaca came from the rising sun, a place of light and the Spaniards came from the setting sun, a place of darkness De Vaca cured, the Spaniards killed De Vaca came naked and empty-handed, the Spaniards came mounted and armed De Vaca and his friends gave, the Spaniards stole everything
Bucketing Getting Ready to Road Map Write the letter of the document that gives evidence for this reason Document letter? Document letter? Reason #1 for survival Reason #2 for survival Reason #3 for survival Cabeza de Vaca survived for at least three reasons:
Sample Outline