The Journey Of The World

“With the dawn of the 16th century, there came together in Europe both the motivation and the means to explore territory across the seas.” During the sixteenth century, Spain found success in conquering American lands thanks to prior interest in exploration fueled by religion, trade, and technology. With their recent success against the Moors in a religious battle, both Ferdinand and Isabella were ready to explore new lands in which they could plant the seeds of a new religion. The desire of trade items that could only be found in Asia also gave them motivation to find a new, quicker root the Far East. But, all of these feats would not have been possible if it were not for the invention of new technologies, such as the compass and astrolabe, helping explorers find their way around the world.

Death, starvation, illness, and hostile natives are some of the difficulties explorers faced during the 15th century. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Garcia Lopez de Cardenas were two Europeans who traveled great distances in hopes of discovering something new. Throughout their journeys, both men wrote down the problems and discoveries they made. With the passages from their journal one can compare and contrast their expeditions. In the upcoming paragraphs one will learn the similarities and differences between the two men during their expeditions.

“We Spaniards know a sickness of the heart that only gold can cure.”- Hernan Cortes

The first Spanish conquistadors’ motive that greatly affected the people living in the new world was the search for gold. You can see that this was a big motive by looking in documents two and three. In document two it talks about how Cortez got lots of money for going to the new world and he promised gold and Indian slaves to people going with him. This document shows how Cortez promised something valuable as gold to motivate people to accompany

Geologically ‘almost’ centered in North America, Mandan Indians occupied “the heart of the world”, present day North Dakota, where the Heart River joins the Missouri River. They were once cradled prosperous human settlements, but Mandan Indians are only mentioned in History when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent the winter with them in 1804-1805**. Elizabeth A. Fenn took a trip to North Dakota in 2002, and she had an urge to write about Mandan Indians. For twelve years, she spent time to gather and learn every aspect that can bring Mandan Indians. She learned archaeology, anthropology, geology, climatology, epidemiology, and nutritional science, anything that could bring Mandan past. Winner

“I did at first, mama. Although throughout my voyage I got ill, and the captain provided me with tips to fight my illness. He recommended me to spend my days on deck and enjoy the view of the vast seas.” I found my families eyes staring into me as if they were dragging out my secrets. I casted down my eyes, yet held my posture. I knew I had to lie.

As we enter the book we are welcomed with a great deal of details about Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca’s early life and his ancestors. As we Cabeza de Vaca was growing up, Spain was vying with Portugal to find a new sea route to eastern Asia and its market of spices, silks, carpets, and gems. During Alvar’s childhood Columbus’s discoveries emerged in Europe. Amerigo Vespucci said it wasn’t Asia but a “New World” but everyone ignored him and kept calling it the Indies. We are also told that artisans and hidalgos weren’t sailing to the unknown lands to simply wonder around the land but to expand the Spanish territory. They wanted to spread Christianity and find gold and silver, Spain reasons for conquering the new world, fertile lands for growing cash crops and raising livestock, and people willing to work in the mines or fields.

Dear Diary, It’s been nine weeks since we left England. I am starting to wonder if we'll ever see land again. I’ve been battling this terrible seasickness the entire time. My husband said that I’ll “get my sea legs” as we travel, but my legs haven’t changed in the slightest. I’ve been dizzy and had a terrible fever. It makes this dark five foot tall ceiling even lower. I’ve survived on

The tone of the Aztec elders’ account was anxious since they knew of the impending conquest when the Spanish soldiers wanted gold in this quote “And when the Spaniards were well settled, they thereupon inquired of Moctezuma as to

“Gold!! Gold!! Gold!!” I heard a newsboy crying out the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s morning headline in the Puget Sound area on July 17, 1897. The Puget Sound’s residents who gathered at the small waterfront area were attracted by the tempting title. The message had sent shock waves across entire North America. Within days, I saw thousands of fortune seekers risking their lives for the unknown adventures of finding gold. The stampeders eagerly bought supplies and then boarded ships bound for the wild unknown of Alaska and Canada. As a lumber worker, I did not have as much interest in gold as that of those fortune seekers. As

“There are far better things ahead than the ones we leave behind” – C.S. Lewis. Chakoh is a 14-year old boy living in a small village when three Spaniards arrive claiming they can heal with the powers of their God, when one of the Spaniards, Cabeza de Vaca, invites Chakoh to come with them, he is torn whether to stay with his family, or go to Mexico.

This document gives evidence to readers that the natives were being sent “to the mines to dig gold… and to the big ranches” by describing their working conditions (Las Casas). Las Casas hoped to make a difference in the way the natives were being treated by influencing the king of Spain to pass new reform laws, the New Laws of 1542 (Newman and Schmalbach 11). A painting, dating between 1500 and 1600, shows natives working in a Spanish mine and washing gold which supports the claims made by Las Casas. The purpose of painting this picture was

Cortes left Spain in February, 1519 and arrived at the Americas in March the same year. He burned down the ships they used to travel as a show of confidence that they would not leave

Spain’s maritime during the 15th century is one of the most well known of this time, with having the journeyman Christopher Columbus be one of the first to reach the Americas. However the Queen of Spain at the time initially did not want to pay for his exhibition, “In early 1492, the Spanish court informed Columbus that his mere presence in the kingdom was no longer welcome.” (Bernstein, pg.165) Which if it wasn’t for one of his supporters convincing the queen, “[…] that funding the voyage west was a low-cost proposition and that it carried the possibility of enormous gain.” (Bernstein, pg.165) Though some may demean Columbus’s travels and findings and say that what he did was not the truth, but, however his presence is strong in the history

When Candide and his companion Cacambo arrive in El Dorado they see the streets covered in gold and other expensive jewels. Seeing a child playing with these jewels Candide assumes that the child is royalty. Candide and Cacambo come to know and are surprised that the people of El Dorado throw such “important” items down on the street as common pebbles. When they are ready to leave the city, they ask to take some of the gold and jewels off the road and imagine “more treasure than every the King of Spain will be possessed of” (346). The King is very surprised but obliges their request: “I cannot imagine what pleasure you Europeans find in our yellow clay; but take away as much of it as you will, and much good may it do you” (345). In El Dorado all people have their needs met, whereas the Europeans believe they need gold to define many aspects of their lives. In Europe, money determines one’s place in society and gives people worth and rights; without money it is difficult to get a meal and a place to sleep, let alone to fulfill one’s goals in life.