In the introduction of “A Land So Strange,” the author Andrés Reséndez highlights the importance of the journey that Cabeza de Vaca, Estebanico, and two other Spaniards take in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Principally, the author wants to bring to attention that their story of colonization is rather unconventional as it sought to create an alliance with the natives and connect two different worlds. He mentions two texts that have contributed to people’s previous awareness of the story, but he believes that the topic of this extraordinary venture that offers an essential image of pre contact North America has faded from present view. With this book, he hopes to bring the story back to light and correct any misconceptions. Although I do not know much of this significant encounter yet, this introduction is persuasive because the author explains how necessary their story is. Their interactions with the natives were humane and their journey was one of understanding, adaptation, and survival. The story of Cabeza de Vaca also serves as an integral part to our country’s history and the author confirms this with the statement, “It is, in essence the story of America.” I find this to be very compelling! Reséndez uses evidence from the Joint Report and the work of Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo among other information to develop this tale accurately and reveal the true intricacies of this important encounter.

The article by David Buisseret emphasizes the use of the term “creolization” to describe the multilateral intermingling of cultures and people. This opposes the terms “acculturation” or “assimilation” which depicts a culture that is dominating an inferior one. I find the concept of creolization to be very positive as it is more of a holistic word to describe something developed in the New World. It takes into account not only one’s own culture entering a distinctly new one, but environmental factors and influences of resident creoles. Interestingly, creolization did not occur at a stagnant rate. The author points out that several factors, such as self-importance, material abundance, and number affect the rate of creolization. The author uses many examples as well as various authors’ findings to support the concept of creolization. He goes on to list numerous examples of architecture, agriculture, food, language, and music that all exemplify creolization. One example I found particularly interesting is the exchange of medicine that Samuel de Champlain had to use to treat his sick men. Evidence like the latter makes the author’s view toward the idea of creolization a more convincing one. Towards the end of the article, Buisseret presents the stages of creolization from the perspective of different authors and offers feedback to each one. Overall, I found the article to be very persuasive because the author not only presents his view, but explores the ideas of other intellects. The countless specific examples also demonstrate and further support the idea of universal creolization. To me, creolization is the correct way to describe the mutual fusion of cultures and people.