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Why did Bartolome de las Casas come to New Spain?
Bartolomé de las Casas, sickened by the exploitation and physical degradation of the indigenous peoples in the Spanish colonies of the Caribbean, gave up his extensive land holdings and slaves and traveled to his homeland in Spain in 1515 to petition the Spanish Crown to stop the abuses that European colonists were …
What did Las Casas argue?
While the Pope had granted Spain sovereignty over the New World, de Las Casas argued that the property rights and rights to their own labor still belonged to the native peoples. Natives were subjects of the Spanish crown, and to treat them as less than human violated the laws of God, nature, and Spain.
What is the purpose of colonization according to de Las Casas?
Las Casas was against the use of brutal force in conversion but agreed with colonisation as a way of expanding the Catholic faith. The Spanish ultimately contributed to the destruction of the Native Americans through violent and unwarranted massacres, and the introduction of religion and disease.
What is Bartolome de las Casas known for?
Bartolomé de Las Casas, (born 1474 or 1484, Sevilla?, Spain—died July 1566, Madrid), early Spanish historian and Dominican missionary who was the first to expose the oppression of indigenous peoples by Europeans in the Americas and to call for the abolition of slavery there.
Why did Bartolome de las Casas explore?
Las Casas sought to change the methods of the Spanish conquest, and believed that both the Spaniards and indigenous communities could build a new civilization in America together. For this reason, during his stay in Spain he conceived the Plan para la reformación de las Indias (Plan for the Reformation of the Indies).
Why was Bartolome de las Casas important to the indigenous people?
Why did de Las Casas write the Destruction of the Indies?
A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies is one of many books by De Las Casas that shows that he was highly persuasive and respected by the Spanish court. It was written to persuade the Spanish king to act in response to the Spanish conquistadors’ abuse of the indigenous population.
Why did Juan de las Casas return to Spain?
The rigorous enforcement of his regulations led to vehement opposition on the part of the Spanish faithful during Lent of 1545 and forced Las Casas to establish a council of bishops to assist him in his task. But soon his uncompromisingly pro-Indian position alienated his colleagues, and in 1547 he returned to Spain.
When did Bartolome de las Casas return to Spain?
In 1547, Las Casas returned to Spain where he became an influential advisor to the emperor and the Council of the Indies until the moment of his death in 1566. In 1550, Las Casas debated in Valladolid his views on the American Indians with Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda in front of the Spanish court.
Why was the Spanish government ambivalent about Las Casas?
The Spanish government in return treated Las Casas’ pleas with ambivalence, in part because indigenous enslavement was so profitable. The government was not the only ambivalent actor. Las Casas himself changed his rhetoric over time as he and his argument matured.
Why was Las Casas named Protector of the Indians?
Nevertheless, las Casas did win a hearing in Spain, where he was named Protector of the Indians. With the passion of an Old Testament prophet, he proclaimed: “The screams of so much spilled human blood have now reached heaven. The earth can no longer bear such steeping in human blood.