1544 he worked in Spain but he died at Coimbra as pro-
fessor of mathematics.
Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar (c. 1490–c. 1557)
Spanish explorer and soldier
In 1527 he joined the New World expedition of Pánfilo de
Narváez, but after landfall in Florida, disaster after disas-
ter overtook the expedition. He and only three others
reached Sonora, Mexico, in 1536, after an eight-year over-
land trek from Texas. La Relación (1542) tells the story of
their epic journey, the first crossing of the North American
continent by Europeans. In 1540 Cabeza de Vaca was sent
as governor of Rio de la Plata province (now Paraguay).
Landing in Brazil, he traveled overland from Santos to
Asunción (1541–42) and later explored the interior of
Paraguay. Usurped in his role of governor (1544), he was
deported to Spain. In 1555 he published Comentarios, re-
lating his South American experiences. Both his books are
valuable anthropological and geographical accounts of
territories previously undescribed.
Nuremberg (German Nürnberg) A city on the River Peg-
nitz in Bavaria, southern Germany. During the 13th cen-
tury Nuremberg became an imperial free city and joined
the Confederation of the Rhine. By the early 14th century
its craftsmen had brought prosperity to Nuremberg, and
in the 15th century further prosperity arose from its situ-
ation on the trade route linking Italy and the Netherlands.
There were rich metal and mineral deposits nearby and
Nuremberg produced very fine gold and silver plate. Sur-
plus capital was used to make Nuremberg one of the first
major European banking centers outside Italy.
Prosperity and close links with Italy placed the city
at the forefront of the northern Renaissance. Willibald
PIRCKHEIMERmade it a center of humanist scholarship,
and the astronomer and mathematician REGIOMONTANUS
also worked there. The Nuremberg geographer Martin Be-
haim made the oldest surviving terrestrial globe in 1492,
epitomizing the city’s reputation as a producer of scientific
instruments. Anton Koberger set up the city’s first printing
press in 1470 and produced at least 236 books there be-
tween 1473 and 1513. Other distinguished citizens in-
cluded the painter and engraver Albrecht DÜRER, the
woodcarver Veit STOSS, the bronze-founder Peter VISCHER,
the sculptor Adam KRAFT, and the poet and dramatist
Hans SACHS. Buildings that have survived, although exten-
sively restored after World War II damage, include the
Marthakirche and Frauenkirche (both 14th century), and
the Lorenzkirche (13th to 15th centuries).Nuremberg, Little Masters of See LITTLE MASTERS(OF
NUREMBERG)NNuurreemmbbeerrgg,, LLiittttllee MMaasstteerrss ooff 3 34455