Intercultural Encounters

In 1528, Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked in Texas and so became the first European to arrive in what we now consider the American West. Over the next two and a half centuries, European settlers continued to move west, where they introduced medical techniques, Christianity, horses, diseases, and more to the native populations they encountered. Over time, de Vaca transformed from conqueror, to captive, to advocate for the native peoples he encountered. De Vaca returned to Spain in 1537 to expressed outrage at the Spanish treatment of Indians, but his perspective did not change the course of European-Native American encounters. Europe’s approach of conquering and converting indigenous peoples continued throughout the West for centuries. The characteristics of European-Native American encounters—Europe’s desire to conquer and convert indigenous peoples, along with their general indifference to native peoples’ reactions—continued throughout the West for centuries.  After watching and discussing video clips about de Vaca, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, Popé, and the significance of horses, students will discuss the similarities and differences between the events described and what they show about the values of each culture.

In 1528, Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked in Texas and so became the first European to arrive in what we now consider the American West. Over the next two and a half centuries, European settlers continued to move west, where they introduced medical techniques, Christianity, horses, diseases, and more to the native populations they encountered. Over time, de Vaca transformed from conqueror, to captive, to advocate for the native peoples he encountered. De Vaca returned to Spain in 1537 to expressed outrage at the Spanish treatment of Indians, but his perspective did not change the course of European-Native American encounters. Europe’s approach of conquering and converting indigenous peoples continued throughout the West for centuries. The characteristics of European-Native American encounters—Europe’s desire to conquer and convert indigenous peoples, along with their general indifference to native peoples’ reactions—continued throughout the West for centuries.  After watching and discussing video clips about de Vaca, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, Popé, and the significance of horses, students will discuss the similarities and differences between the events described and what they show about the values of each culture.

In 1528, Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca landed with his crew in what is now Texas. His role among the Coco Indians varied over the years, from conqueror to missionary to captive to advocate.

In 1680, Tewa Pueblo leader Popé organized an all-native a revolt to drive out the Spaniards. The revolt succeeded for just 12 years, though when the Spanish returned, Euro-indigenous interactions were less violent than they had been previously.