Bartolome De Las Casas Analysis

Las Casas viewed the indigenous people in a good light, having said that they were humble and peaceful. He also stated that, for the most part, they were the type of people who wanted to mind to their own business and not get concerned with others. He was a spokesperson for the indigenous people in the new world, feeling the pain that these Spanish intruders forced upon them. The Spaniards didn’t share the same view, they were very cruel and unjust in the way that they treated the indigenous people. They had no respect for their culture or for what the indigenous people had created. Even so the indigenous

The historical context reports that the Spanish had conquered the Natives. The Spanish had terrorized and destroyed the culture of the Natives. The Spanish forced their culture onto the Natives without a choice in order to convert them. There was a culture clash between the Native Americans and the Spanish. The Spanish only desired expansion, therefore making the Natives their slaves as well as controlling their lifestyles. Uniting as one, the Natives were able to defeat and demonstrate that they would not go down without a challenge. The Natives were strong

De Las Casas calls out the Spaniards on their treatment of the native people, after being witness to the horrors himself. Williams observes the natives and comes to understand that they have a civility about them, attempting to break the “savage” stereotype, although still considering them sinners, but innocent in that they have not had the light of Christianity shined upon them. De Las Casas admires the bravery of the natives, as he mentions that they do not seek revenge towards the Spaniards for the grueling work they are forced to do for no benefit other than the sparing of their lives. He switches the perspective greatly from “Requerimiento, 1514” by making the Spanish out to be bullies to the natives. Williams states that “A man shall generally finde more free entertainment and refreshing amongst these barbarian, then amongst thousands that call themselves Christians…” implying that he has more fun experiences with the natives. He is also impressed by their math abilities, as they have no writing tools. Both men view the natives as innocent beings that do not deserve the cruelties they are faced

It was the Spanish’s duty to drive them into Christianity. Native Americans were also observed to be suitable for slaughter or conquering. This argument sheds light on how much violence and suffering the Spanish caused in order to colonize North America. Las Casas witnessed the death of many poorly-armed natives which was something he never forgot. Traveling through Hispaniola, he was able to see the appalling conditions in which the natives were kept. His convictions about the plight of the Native Americans caused him to relinquish his family holdings on Hispaniola. Las Casas became certain that the killing and enslavement of the native population was a crime and a mortal sin as it is defined by the church. It was this iron-clad belief that made Bartolomé de las Casas such a firm advocate for fair treatment of Native Americans. As a result of his unyielding dedication to this cause, he became the “Protector of the Indians” until his death in

during that time. The reasoning for defending the Indians was because they were at a prior

Bartolome de las Casas acted as benefactor for the Native Americans in the Indies. He and his writings only served to offer descriptions of the cruel conditions that were imposed on Native Americans. His works additionally and rightfully depicted that Native Americans were people as well. In his recalling, A Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies, he goes on to specify all the cruel and inhumane conditions that Native Americans were put through. Bartolome also describes a huge plummet in the number of inhabitants in the Indies which only further solidifies his standing as a benefactor. His humane behavior derived from the injustice he felt and saw when witnessing the unjustified slaughter of the Native Americans. However, there was a downside to Bartolome’s depiction of the Native Americans. His account of their situation in the Indies was so critical that it basically belittled the Native Americans as a people.

“Las Casas was a Dominican priest who came to the New World a few years after Columbus, spent forty years on Hispaniola and nearby islands, and became the leading advocate in Spain for the rights of the natives”. In 1502, Las Casas moved towards Hispaniola, in the Caribbean. His enthusiasm for the organization was well supported by a Dominican minister and moreover his affectability toward the desolation of the neighborhood inhabitants. In 1509, he denied his domain surrender, released his bondservants, and returned to Rome to take his divine promises. In 1512, he returned to Hispaniola as the chief designated pastor in America and scrutinized ill-treat of the Spanish for Indians and the armed triumph of the New-fangled Biosphere. Emperor

The Spaniards had the opposite kinds of thoughts and actions. They wanted gold, and saw that the ‘kings’ or Native American tribe leaders had some jewelry made out of gold. Known for being ruthless, the conquistadors took over the land. They took over the Aztec Empire, killing off thousands of Aztecs. When the conquistadors traveled through todays Texas to what is now today Florida with the Pueblos Indians, they took over their land and forced them into Christianity. The laws enforced by the Conquistadors caused for a revolt back against the Spaniards, the Pueblos started to practice their old religion, causing for the Spaniards to have a counter reformation killing off thousands of the Pueblo Indians. As Langston Hughes says in his poem Let American Be America Again “I am the red man driven from the land,” this particular piece of his poem ties in with what happened to the Native Indians being driven from their home lands when the settlers came and

De Soto treated the Natives harshly by enslaving or just killing them. Most of the time, the Indian

Bartolome de las Casas took a stand against slavery by writing his book A Short Account of the Destruction of The Indies. He wrote this to show the mistreatment of the Tainos. Although over in Spain they thought they were getting richer and richer but hundreds of tainos were dying and they were getting no richer. They were cutting off hands of innocent tainos above the age of thirteen. If they didn’t get enough gold they would take and enslave thousand of tainos. Bartolome de las casas wrote a book called The short Account of the destruction of the Indies, to show Spain and every other country how bad the Tainos were being treated. He also wrote this book to try and make people killing and slaughtering hundreds of innocent Tainos. Las Casas

Introduction: History of Bartolome de la casas Bartolome de la Casas was a historian who had Spanish origin, and he was branded a Dominican friar and a social reformer as well. He was born in Seville in 1484 and was eventually given an official appointment as the protector of the Indians. His appointment as the protector of Indians was greatly sparkled by his service as resident bishop in Chiapas, a position that he was surely the first person of his kind to hold. He was a great writer and used his writing to address the issues that colonialists committed against the indigenous people especially in the West Indies. To this effect Bartolome de la Casas wrote an "Account on the Destruction of the Indies" alongside the other document called "Historia de Las Indias".

I agree with your points that Casas wrote about such critical history as a proof that helps all people can see how the Indians were treated cruelly by Spanish colonialism. As you said Casas was a priest, he probably realized the wrong actions of the Spanish, and this created the motivation to help Casas wrote about this

Bartolme De Las Casas is an interesting character. His passion for people who at the time were seen as a sub species of humans (if even human at all) is remarkable. De Las Casas came from a modest family and was well educated. He was brought into the world of the America 's through his father Pedro De Las Casas who was an encomiendo himself. His travels through the New World prior to 1510 when he became an ordained priest shaped his crusade to defend the Natives.

These facts they were raised and that tells Bartolomé de las Casas about a series of brutal encounters of the Spanish with the inhabitants of the American territory. It is worth noting that by the time of the arrival of Columbus to American territory population was higher.

His work against the persecution and forced labor of the native people in Hispaniola made him one of the first advocates for human rights. He is quoted on page 63 of Humanity of the Indians as saying “They are all human beings.” He strongly opposed the Spanish conquistador’s assertions that the native populations, or Indians as they were called, were violent, unskilled, and dangerous. He countered that they were “calm, quiet, and controlled” and lived in “extraordinary kingdoms.” (Pg. 64). His love of the world propelled him into world recognition as the love he showed has lasted throughout the