History Of Bartolome De Las Casas

The fifteenth century was a period of mass exploration for many areas of the world. Countries such as Spain, France, and England were beginning to send explorers to the newly discovered western hemisphere for their nations to gain both wealth and territory. Many of the explorers thought it was necessary to subordinate Indian civilizations in order to benefit both themselves and their country. Decisions that the explorers made on the other side of the world proved to introduce great controversy in Europe. Some theologians and historians, such as Ginés Sepúlveda, saw invasions of the New World as a way to introduce civilization and Christianity to “barbarians” that are “incapable of government” (Las Casas 3). However, many religious leaders,

Perhaps the most significant comparisons were the indirect ones. Las Casas asks the Spanish if they would allow the Romans, who called Spaniards barbaric, to divide their country as a promise for the deaths of many men and women. This is what Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, did to the Native Americans only a few decades before. He promised surrounding tribes the termination of the Aztec people in order to gain their partnership for his invasion (Tindall and Shi 18). Las Casas proceeds by asking the Spanish if they would allow the Romans to “strip [Spanish] rulers of their authority and consigned all [Spaniards]... especially in searching for gold and silver” (4). Similarly, this is what many conquistadors, including Cortés, did to the Indians. Cortés captured the Aztec emperor, Montezuma II, forcing him to enslave many of his own people to mine for gold (Tindall and Shi 18). While he was far from alone in the enslavement of Native Americans, Cortés’ brutal invasion and treatment of the Indians caused some Europeans, like Las Casas, to question the actions of many

Despite the Europeans’ claim, there was still a significant amount of protest in regards of the exploration of the New World. Both royal and religious leaders also questioned their methods of expansion. The king of Spain at the time, Charles V, and the pope, Pope Paul III, publicly disapproved of many of the conquistadors’ actions towards the natives (Las Casas 3). In addition, Bartolomé de Las Casas stated, “Long before they had heard the word Spaniard they had properly organized states, wisely ordered by excellent laws, religion, and custom” (3). Europeans who opposed the harsh treatment of Indians believed that conquistadors were not exploring the New World in order to spread Christianity. In Las Casas words, the conquistadors tended to “act like thieves, cut-throats, and plunderers… to drive the gentlest of people headlong into despair”