A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Newcomers in the New World -- the Spaniards Eldritch Press: "Electronic edition of Cabeza de Vaca's Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America (1542)" This text resource is Cabeza de Vaca's account of his explorations along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to present-day Texas. Billed as "one of the great true epics of history," it is the semi-official report to the king of Spain by the ranking surviving officer of a royal expedition to conquer Florida. Though the expedition miscarried, Cabeza de Vaca left us a report full of interesting and detailed descriptions of native Americans, their foods, and the indigenous animals of the continent. His report is also useful to teach students how to read critically as historians must do - how to sift valuable historical information (evidence) out of a source which presents that information embedded in a grid of cultural prejudices and presuppositions. This resource might encourage Academically Gifted students to develop an interest in or further explore colonial relations, European perspectives on Native American culture, or Spain's colonial history in the United States. In an Academically Gifted or Honors-level middle school or high school classroom, groups of students could choose selections from this long historical account to search for indications of European presuppositions and prejudices. These could be discussed as a class, with the teacher moderating and asking the students to consider whether and/or how much these presuppositions on the part of the narrator may damage the value of the text as historical evidence. Students could recreate events in their chosen passage through a role-play, an artistic recreation, or some other dramatic representation.

Newcomers in the New World -- the Spaniards
Eldritch Press: Electronic edition of Cabeza de Vaca's Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America (1542)

Description: This text resource is Cabeza de Vaca's account of his explorations along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to present-day Texas. Billed as "one of the great true epics of history," it is the semi-official report to the king of Spain by the ranking surviving officer of a royal expedition to conquer Florida. Though the expedition miscarried, Cabeza de Vaca left us a report full of interesting and detailed descriptions of native Americans, their foods, and the indigenous animals of the continent. His report is also useful to teach students how to read critically as historians must do - how to sift valuable historical information (evidence) out of a source which presents that information embedded in a grid of cultural prejudices and presuppositions. This resource might encourage Academically Gifted students to develop an interest in or further explore colonial relations, European perspectives on Native American culture, or Spain's colonial history in the United States.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

In an Academically Gifted or Honors-level middle school or high school classroom, groups of students could choose selections from this long historical account to search for indications of European presuppositions and prejudices. These could be discussed as a class, with the teacher moderating and asking the students to consider whether and/or how much these presuppositions on the part of the narrator may damage the value of the text as historical evidence.

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Students could recreate events in their chosen passage through a role-play, an artistic recreation, or some other dramatic representation.