Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer born in 1490. He is best known for his journey through parts of what is now the United States and Mexico during the early 16th century. After surviving a shipwreck in 1528, he spent nearly a decade traveling among various Indigenous tribes, learning their languages and customs. His experiences were documented in a book titled "La Relación," which provided valuable insights into the cultures he encountered. Cabeza de Vaca's explorations contributed to European knowledge of the Americas and highlighted the complexities of Indigenous societies, influencing future explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.