Spanish Black Legend Research Paper

Many people misconstrue the harmful and beneficial arrival of the Europeans in the New World. The Spanish black legend is an idea that criticizes the Spanish for their harsh treatment and exploitation towards the Native Americans. The Spanish are known for killing, stealing, and infecting the Native Americans which is all true, however the Spanish also brought culture, religion, plants, animals, and ideas. People and ideas contributed to the notion of the Black Legend.
To begin with, the idea of the black legend began with reformers. Bartolome de Las Casas, a Spanish reformer against the harsh treatment toward the Native Americans, wrote a book called “A brief Account of the destruction of the Indies”. In the book, he criticizes the Spanish

for their exploitation of the Native Americans. Las Casas knew that the Spanish had supremacy over the natives, but also knew that the Spanish had no right to enslave the Native Americans. With his book he made the problem known to the world.
Furthermore, many wonder how the idea of the Black Legend spread. Around this time period, the printing press, developed by Johannes Gutenberg, had become popular. The printing press was heavily used and produced books at a faster rate than writing a book by hand. When Bartolome de Las Casas wrote his book that belittled the Spanish it was quickly distributed throughout the European continent. This made Spain look harsh and brutal toward their colonies. Competing countries would then look down upon Spain for their harsh treatment toward the Natives.
Finally, the Spaniards brought contributed many things that transformed the Native Americans way of life. When the Spaniards came to the New World they brought many plant and animals that transformed the Native’s way of life. The Spaniards also intermarried with the Native women creating a mixed race of mestizos. They also brought language and religion that is still highly influential to the American continents today.
In summary, the Spanish Black Legend was ideas that criticized the Spanish for their inhumane treatment towards the Native Americans. The Spanish left a tremendous impact that was beneficial and harmful. The Spaniards infected and depleted the Native Americans population. The Spaniards also took over their homes, however we can see the Spanish transformations in the diversity of race, Spanish culture, and the evolved Spanish language that we have today in the two continents.