Download Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: The "Great Pedestrian" of North and South America AudioBook Free

Cabeza de Vaca's setting of transport, afoot on servings of two continents in the first generations of the 16th century, matches one dictionary meaning of the word "pedestrian". In no way, however, should the ancillary meanings of "commonplace" or "prosaic" be employed to the person or his amazing escapades. Between 1528 and 1536, he trekked around 2480 to 2640 miles of North American landscape from the Tx coast near Galveston Island to San Miguel de Culiacán near to the Pacific Coastline of Mexico. Then journeyed under better circumstances, although still by walking, to Mexico City. About a calendar year later, Cabeza de Vaca came back to Spain. In 1540, the ruler granted Cabeza de Vaca civil and armed forces specialist in modern-day Paraguay. After arriving on the coast of Brazil in 1541, he was unable to find transport by dispatch to the chair of his governorship. Then led several more 250 settlers through 1200 miles of unchartered back again country, where he lost only two men. Cabeza de Vaca's travels are perfect in themselves, but during them he changed from a happy Spanish don to place advocate of Indian privileges on both American continents. That voyage is as amazing as his travels. It was this "great awakening" that arrived him in more trouble with Spaniards than Indians. Settlers at Asunción rebelled contrary to the reformist governor, incarcerated him, attempted to poison his food on two occasions, and finally dispatched him to Spain in irons. There he was attempted and convicted on trumped-up charges of undertaking policies which were the exact opposite of what he previously marketed - the humane safety of Indians. This reserve examines the two great "journeys" of Cabeza de Vaca - his remarkable escapades on two continents and his amazing progress as a humanitarian.

Category: Biographical