Cabeza de vaca brief biography of alberta

This expedition set sail from Spain in June with five ships and approximately men, including soldiers, officers, and settlers. After a brief stop in the Caribbean to gather more supplies and slaves, they arrived on the west coast of Florida near Tampa Bay in April Almost immediately, the expedition encountered numerous difficulties. The expedition was conceived with ambitious goals but lacked meticulous planning, particularly in navigation and provisioning.

At the time, navigators primarily relied on rudimentary instruments such as the astrolabe and the cross-staff to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or stars above the horizon. These tools were useful but limited in accuracy, especially in determining longitude, which often left explorers uncertain of their exact position.

These maps lacked detailed information and often contained significant errors, leading to confusion and misdirection.

How many bison were there in 1600

At that time, ships carried barrels of salted meat, hardtack, and limited fresh water, which were often subject to spoilage and contamination, leading to malnutrition and disease among the crew. The expedition was unprepared for the severe weather conditions they encountered upon reaching Florida. These deficiencies in navigation and provisioning, coupled with a poor understanding of the local climate and geography, resulted in critical errors in route planning and timing.

Upon landing near present-day Tampa Bay in April of , the expedition quickly encountered the Apalachee tribe, known for their formidable resistance to outsiders.