Prosperity for the Spaniards in the New Wold was the Downfall for America

In 1492, Christopher Columbus embarked on his journey to what he thought was India. Little did he know, he would first end up in The Caribbean, and later discover what is now known as the Americas. England, Spain, and France would soon try and conquer the New World and the Native American’s in it. Each of these countries interactions with the Native’s were different, but would affect their culture and way of living in some way. Columbus’ discovery of the Natives forced interaction between Europeans and the indigenous people of the Americas.

1492 was a turning point for the Spanish, Columbus’s successful settlements in the new world encouraged further expeditions to discover resources and spread Christianity abroad. As we learned last week the

Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World, creating the search for profits determining the direction of Spanish exploration. In 1504, Hernando Cortes had sailed the Atlantic Ocean with 600 men, ten cannons, weapons and horses. They had come to fight and conquer “To justify their own imperialism, the rival Europeans elaborated upon some very real Spanish atrocities to craft the notorious persistent “Black Legend”: that the Spanish were uniquely cruel and far more brutal and destructive than other Europeans in their treatment of the Indians. (American Colonies p.51)

I think that Las Casas’s intention was one relating to his ideals as a true Catholic Priest. He had hoped to free the Indians from the injustice he saw before him and to save them the mistreatment given by the Spaniards. Although Las Casa had been involved in the exploitation of the Indian labor he freed his Indian slaves in 1514 and became one of the major voices against the Spanish atrocities committed against the native peoples of the Americas. This shows his compassion and empathy, Christian principles taught by Jesus Christ. Las Casa chose to follow his true Christian values in a time and setting when his home country and its entire government chose to enslave and exploit an entire race of people under their Christian façade. Although

Bartolome de Las Casas, was a friar and latter a Dominican, who is considered by many as one of the few authors who does justice to the native people of the New World. Casas has a particular purpose on his writings, that being letting the King of Spain at that time Charles V know, of the miseries that were being done to the native people of the New World. De Las Casas does not condemn the arrival of the Spanish in this new land, nor does he condemn the conversion of these gentle and innocent people to Christianity, however, he condemns the measures taken to convert these people into Christianity. He is one of the few writers that extends in different places, and it is certain that he was one of the few who travelled all around the New World.

The Spanish were the first to settle in The New World. Christopher Columbus, who was part of the Spanish voyage, was the first person to discover America. His goal was to find another path to Asia and the Indies but found America instead. Once they settled in America, God, Glory, and Gold fueled their motive. Most of the Spanish were Roman Catholic and if someone was a protestant they were persecuted. When the Spanish discovered the Indians, their goal was to convert them to Roman Catholicism. They wanted to spread the word of God to everyone; even to the Indians who had no idea what they were talking about. Another motive for the Spanish was the wealth. Before discovering America, the Spanish tried reclaiming the Iberian Peninsula from the Islamic rule. This caused the Castile, Argon, and Leon’s royal treasury to drain. Once they discovered America, they realized that new colonies, and trade routes from America would help that drain. Another motive was the Spanish glory. Spain wanted to be the dominant power in Europe so by conquering America, they could rule Europe. The New World was seen as a vast property to enrich the crown, the

Daniel Castro examines the work of Las Casas. He discusses the humanitarian element Las Casas is known for but mainly highlights the rarely exposed ambivalent political and economic imperialistic motives behind his “humanitarianism” and his will to convert the Indigenous people. Castro focuses on the apostle and destructor dichotomy of Las Casas. Castro states that while Las Casas was fighting to defend indigenous rights, he was also actively and willingly participated in aiding Spanish’s destruction of the natives; “Las Casas’s work with and for the Indians is more paternalistic than paternal, more sympathetic than empathetic”. Castro emphasizes the Dominican’s actions as justification and aid to achieving the possession of the new land and their resources. He discredits the idea of Las Casas being an apostle by counter arguing that an apostle is an individual who “performs active person to person evangelizing to convert unbelievers to his/hers own faith, and proclaims that Las Casas rarely had direct contact with the indigenous people (pp. 3).

Juan Gines de Sepulveda and Bartolome de las Casas held differing viewpoints on the treatment and personhood of the indigenous peoples of the New World. The Spanish contemporaries had perspectives that were both opposing and similar in regard to the Native population during the advent of sixteenth century Spanish domination in the Americas.

The first source presented is a Spanish priest/missionary named Bartolome De Las Casas, who declares that the Christian Spaniards treated the Indigenous peoples in the Americas poorly, by not converting them to the Christian faith before their cruel and torturous deaths from the abusive behavior. The source starts out with the comment that “the reason the [Spanish] Christians have murdered on such a vast scale and killed anyone and everyone in their way is purely and simply greed... Their insatiable greed and overweening ambition know no bounds; the land is fertile and rich, the inhabitants simple, forbearing and submissive.” The author states this because the Spaniards at the time were not concerned about the Indigenous peoples lives; they only cared about their 3 precious things: gold, God, and glory. They stole the riches from the chieftains, they assimilated the peoples to the “superior” Christian faith, and stole their lands for the glory of Spain. Next, the author states that “the

Every schoolchild knows that “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” This voyage was the gateway to an age of exploration, triumph, and ruin. Columbus’s voyage introduced the world to a new land and many opportunities. Powerful countries immediately scrambled to grab as much of it for themselves as they could. Two of the most powerful ones were England and Spain. Both wanted a piece of the new land, a way to grow economically or to escape persecution. Even though they had similar goals in mind, England and Spain had vastly different strategies.

These people are the most devoid of rancors, hatreds, or desire for vengeance of any people in the world.” The Indian lacked secular possession such as gold, which they view as insignificant. They only possessed the basic essentials necessary for survival. Bartolome de las Casas viewed the Indians as very amiable and docile people. In The Devastation of the Indies,” Bartolome de las Casas states, “Some of the secular Spaniards who have been here for many years say that the goodness of the Indians is undeniable and that if this gifted people could be brought to know the one true God they would be the most fortunate people in the

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.

In the first, encounters between American Indians and Europeans, two races with vast differences in culture, knowledge and lifestyles saw each other’s physical distraction to the other. Columbus’s first impression of the Arawak Tribe in the Caribbean reflected this ethnocentric he stated, “I knew they were a people who could be more easily tried and converted to our holy faith by more than one voice…they are very well made, with very handsome bodies, and …with good focus… They should be good servants and intelligent, for I observed that they quickly took in what was said to them and I believe that they would easily be molded. Christians, as it appears to me that they had no religion,” Epitomizing the dictionary to views of the American Indian either as a Noble Savage or as a blood thirsty barbarian was the great debate between Barlotom¬e de las Casus, a bishop serving in the New World, and Juan Ginis de Sepulveda, a Renaissance Scholar. The latter considered the American Indian no better than “beasts” who should be enslaved.

From the earliest days of the Spanish conquistadores and throughout their conquest of North, South and Central America, the exploitation of the natives remained a common theme. In addition, to the explorers pursuing wealth and discovery, the church

'' The Spanish and Portuguese significantly impacted the new world '', is an unequivocal statement which fosters a sense of unanimity within the historical sphere. The dispersal of Catholicism, the establishment of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, and their salient role in the ''Age of Discovery'' testifies to the impeachable statement that, indeed, they did substantially impact the Americas. The word impact possesses multiple meanings and is often used interchangeable, however within this historical context it can be defined as an influence and effect as well as the force exerted by a new idea, concept, technology, or ideology (dictionary.com). The prevailing ideology during this period was of an imperialistic nature, the attainment