American Literature Week One Book Notes

"To sail is necessary; to live is not." Portuguese from Don Henrique, the prince who in English is known as Henry the Navigator, founder of the first school of navigation and prime mover in the Portuguese voyages of discovery. For the Portuguese this was literally true. In the north they grow grapes and make good wine, but the sea is--or was--the nation's life.

Four voyages to the Indies (Hispanoila, South American Mainland, etc) Relations turned sour after 1492 as Spaniard Christians demanded gold and sexual partners.

Christopher Columbus, At Sea, February 15, 1493, letter to Luis De Santangel, a former merchant and court official who had supported Columbus's proposal to the Spanish Crown and had helped secure financing for his first voyage. Names Of Islands Mentioned: San Salvador, Isla de Santa Maria de Concepcion, Fernandina, Isabella, Isla Juana--to each one gives a new name. Juana was extensive. Island of Tenerife. Gave the name Hispaniola to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Written by Christopher Columbus in Jamaica, July 7th, 1503. Is About how things had deteriorated in Espanola, Paria, and the other islands Columbus originally visited to on his first trip in 1493. Talks about how people returned to the Indies that previously disliked Columbus and had spoken ill of him. Talks about people going forth to plunder, talks about how poor he is and he does not have a blanca for an offering.

First heard of the new discoveries of Columbus as a student in Sellville, later went to Hispaniola in 1502 as a member of a new royal governor's party. In his great "History of the Indies" he wrote about his moral blindness during this period, and later after becoming a priest, advocated for the freeing of Indian slaves, then the replacement with black slaves, and then no slaves altogether. Was put in charge as protector of the Indians in Venezuela, but the venture failed and he had to go into seclusion. When he came back into the picture in politics, his ideas had widespread effect and he influenced Pope Paul II to give legal protection to Indians. was bishop of Chiapas Mexico from 1544-1547, but could not enforce the laws because of rebellion so he came back in 1547 where he spent the rest of his life writing about his travels to the West Indies. The most important writing of his is "The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies" first published in 1552 but based on oral arguments from 1542 to persuade a commission to frame the new code.

Published in 1552, from Hispaniola by Bartolome De Las Casas. Starts out talking about how the place was the first island to be destroyed in the New World. Talks about how the Christians raped women, dismembered Indians, and engaged in other crude hostilities. The piece is important because it shows how bad conditions were, but also because it was intended to be a call for future reform. Ultimately, it led to a denunciation of Spain's past and provided other countries, like The Netherlands and England, of the sin trail left by Spain in the New World. Attacked the young, old, women and children. Put a stick over victims tongues. Though they wanted to throw the Christians out, Casas says Indian weapons are ineffective against the Christians because they are "very weak and of little service in offense and still less in defense" and because of this "the wars of Indians against each other are little more than games played by children." Chapter: "The Coast of Pearls, Paria, and the Island of Trinidad- This chapter talks about the human trafficking of Indians and also describes the process by which they are enslaved. First, the Spaniards take Native American captives and bring them to Hispaniola and San Juan--over two million. On the passage, they throw many of the dead overboard i.e "the distance between the Lucayons Islands and Hispaniola could be traced from the dead corpses--no need for maps or charts for ships." Indians die from starvation. When the Indians are put on land, they are divided "like sheep" and separated from their family, then distributed among the Spaniards. The Spaniards who receive old or sickly slaves actively talk about how they are displeased by their slaves age or illness, and thus they illustrate "the divine concepts of love for our fellow man as laid down by the prophets." The passage ends on a specific example of the pearl diving slaves. This group, Casas expresses, possesses the most "infernal and desperate" jobs in the world because the divers are required to hold their breath for minutes at a time, sharks can kill them, and they suffer problems with being under water and being cold. Mistreatment of these slaves is overlooked because they are really good at swimming and it brings in profit, gold, and pearls, hence the name of the chapter. Spanish Judges overlooked the mistreatment of divers because their abilities were so strong.

Born in the village of Jerez de la Frontera. Sailed on Panfilo De Narvaez's Florida expedition as aquacil mayor (provost marshal) and treasurer. Trip suffered many problems, leader took possession of Florida. Group was reduced to escaping from Indians (the Timucuan of the Suwannee River area) by building clumsy rafts and escaping to the sea (Cabeza De Vaca) eventually ending up in Mississippi, and wrecking on Galveston Island in Texas. Cabaza was with three survivors (two spainards and a slave) for the first two years as prisoner among various Indian groups on the Texas coast (initially Han and Capoque clans of the Karankawa Indians and then gradually progressed along the north and west, gaining power among the Caddos, Atakapas, Coahuiltecans, and other natives (ability to heal and experience as a merchant made him useful). By 1535, he reached New Mexico where he encountered the Jumanos and Conchoes, the went into Mexico as a leader of Pimas and Opatas. However, the people from the group later disappeared when De Vava ran into a group of Spanish Slave traders who wanted to capture his group. He was later arrested and sent back to Spain, where he gained approval to come back to South America and initiaite an enlightened Indian policy. However, the men of his colony, Rio de la Plata, disapproved and sent him back in chains. He was exiled to Algeria and was not allowed to go back to South America. Before his departure back to South America, he wrote and published his first narrative of the Narvaex expedition in 1542, the expanded version including his American experience was published in 1555.

Published in 1542/1555 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca to recount Cabeza de Vaca's sufferings and compelx feelings about the native Americans and Spain's dealing with them. He also published it to express renewed interest in exploring America and depict his view of Spanish policy. (Ask about publishing date.) Cabeza de Vaca dedicates his work to Emperor Charles V. In this dedication, he says that it is his duty to talk about his experience with the flora, fauna, and natives of the New World so that others who want to conquer America will know what it is like. He also says he will be direct in his approach. Chapter: The Malhado Way of Life: Cabeza de Vaca writes about the Capoques and the Hans of coastal Texas: They are a tall, well built people who use only bows and arrows. They also pierce their nipples and hips. The women of the two tribes "toil incessantly." Their diet consists of roots and fish from October to about February. They take good care of children. The funerals of these people include a year of mourning for those who die young, but no mourning for those who die in old age. Men have only one wife, except the medicine men, who may have three or four wives who live okay together. Also, men have no relationships with their in-laws, but women have relationships with their parents and the parents of their husbands. For three months, the people eat only oysters and drink dirty water. Cabeza de Vaca mentions that sometimes he went three or more days with no food. He ends by talking about how the Capoques and the Hans are different from one another. The story ends discussing fiesta and dances in April. Chapter Two: Our Life Among the Avavares and Arbadaos: discusses the Avavare and Arbadao people who are located in the middle of Texas. Strange enough, the Avavare people do not keep time by "sun or moon" and they also do not measure time by the months. Instead, they watch the seasons and keep time by reading the position of stars and the ripening of fruit and dying of fish. Unfortunatly, this group of people also suffer more want than the Hans and the Capoques because they do not have access to corn, pecans, acorns, or fish. Cabeza de Vaca also mentions 6 of 8 months he spends with this group are based in hunger. After he leaves the Avavares, Cabeza de Vaca and his group venture for a day to the Maliacone people and then they travel with them to look for food in the trees while they wait for fresh pears to ripen to eat. Later on, The Maliacones meet up with the Arbadaos, who are weak, emaciated, and have a swollen look to them. Cabeza de Vaca and his men leave the Maliacones and stay with the Arbadaos in their village. Here, they suffer more want than they have to date. • While with the Arbadaos, Cabeza says that he is naked, sun-burnt, and often cut by thorns when picking up wood. However, he finds solace in comparing his nature to that of Christ. Thankfully, he and his three survivors subsist on scraps of raw meat which they find when cleaning hides. In addition, they also find food by trading with the Arbadaos when they can. Pushing On: This chapter discusses Cabeza de Vaca's journey after being with the Arbadao people. From the Arbadao, he leaves to go to another group of Indians. Unfortunately, he along with his three survivors become lost along the way, so they pause to harvest and pick some prickly pears before continuing on. They are able to find their way, and eventually arrive at the village. However, struggle strikes again, when at this village, the people ask the visitors to bless their sick. When the time comes for Cabeza de Vaca and his men to leave, the village expresses unease at their leaving, even crying as they walk away. Customs of That Region: Cabeza de Vaca describes the practices and customs that are shared by all the groups with which he has spent time. 1. Men cease sleeping with their pregnant wives when they become pregnant. Husband continues to not sleep with her for two years after the child's birth. 2. The child is also nursed for 12 years in order to keep him/her nourished enough in times when food is scarce or absent. 3. Childless men may leave their wives and reconnect with another woman, but Men who have children never leave their wives. When it comes to dispute resolution, married men fist-fight with one another if an argument arises and during these fights, only women can intercede. The men then have a cooling off period during which they go live in the scrub wood until they can be friends again. Albeit different, single men leave to go to neighboring villages for their cooling-off period. They often return rich and happy, willing to be friends once more. The First Confrontation: This chapter describes Cabeza de Vaca's excursion into Mexico. First, Cabeza de Vaca describes nearing Christians. Because he knows they are close, he and one of his party along with eleven of his Native American followers go to find them. However, once he finds the Christians, he is taken at his request to their captain, who is Diego de Alcaraz. Alcaraz tells Cabeza de Vaca that he is in trouble because he cannot find and capture Indians to be slaves. However, Cabeza de Vaca makes the mistake of telling Alcaraz that he is traveling with an group of natives. As a result, Alcaraz sends riders for Cabeza de Vaca's other two companions and the Native Americans who have been following him. All of this happens approximately thirty leagues outside San Miguel. Chapter: The Falling-Out With Our Countrymen." After Cabeza de Vaca's Native American followers feed and supply Alcaraz and his men, the two groups of Spaniards argue about Alcaraz's plans to take captive Cabeza de Vaca's Indians. Objecting, Cabeza de Vaca repeatedly attempts to send his Indians home; however, they will not leave him before placing him with another group of Indians. Then, after a long explanation, Cabeza de Vaca's Native Americans refuse to believe that Alacraz and Cabeza de Vaca are countrymen because the two men are very different. The main differences are that Alcaraz came from the sunset, kills men who are sound of body, wears clothes, is horsed and has lances, and robs others while doing absoutely nothing in return. Cabeza de Vaca, on the other hand, comes from the sunrise, is a healer to the sick, is naked and barefooted, and is someone "who covets nothing but reciprocates all." After much conversation, Cabeza de Vaca is eventually able to entreat the Native Americans to return to their villages. Cabeza de Vaca ends the story by hyping the land and natives as blessed and then he provides a brief description of his arrest. He later liberates 600 of his Indian followers.

Had much experience in Hispaniola and Cuba before he was given command of an expedition that was sent out in 1519 to retrieve stranded Spaniards. When conflicts arose between he and the governor of Cuba, Cortes went on to Mexico against orders to conquer Montezuma's Aztec empire (Tenochtitlan). He wrote five letters to Charles V of Spain to prove that his illegal actions were rational.

October 30th, 1520 written by Hernan Cortes. Significant because 1) It details the Azetec Empire in great detail 2) Reveals the feeligns of the Spainards toward natives, 3) Illuminates the conquering of the Aztec Empire (in Temixtitan/Tenochtitlan/Mexico City. Talks about the market squares, the trading areas, the boat channels, the way the people worship and their pagan tendencies, priests, and how they subjected themselves by sacrifice to pagan gods, how a guard stands outside some buildings to collect a tax, etc. Ended by commenting on how remarakable it was that a people cut off from civilized nations and God could have such an advanced society.