Bartoleme de Las Casas - A Viewpoint of Spanish American Col
Bartoleme de Las Casas gives an account of the effects of Spanishsubjugation of the mainland and islands that comprise the Indies in the forty-nine years that Spanish settlers arrived in Hispaniola. He could have called his account "How to Depopulate in Less than 50 Years." He describes the native populations in a detailed and sympathetic account, which serves as a dramatic backdrop to his description of their treatment by the Spanish, which led to their eradication. Las Casas, by his own account and from opinions of sympathetic secular Spanish and missionaries, paints a picture of a native population unable to defend itself against violence because of their nature and their way of life. He says they are obedient and faithful to their new Spanish masters and to the Catholic faith which many do not object converting to. He counts among their many virt
They sent Indian men to work in the mines, which quickly resulted in death. The heavy work, their lack of resistance to disease, and poor nutrition killed them. Their deaths through war, execution, disease, torture, and harsh treatment during enslavement meant that millions died before conversion, and, to the Spanish thinking, were beyond redemption because they died heathens. ues humility, peacefulness, intelligence, friendliness, and openness to the Catholic faith. Onto this backdrop of admiration and sympathy, Las Casas describes the ravages by the Spanish oppressors to the native population that eventually destroyed them. Their food, lodging, and dress are very plain. Indians tried hiding their food, women, and children from the Spanish, but this only made Spanish retribution more severe. Indian people and Indian nations were debased and made hopeless with loss of dignity and way of life. The reason for this inhumane treatment by the Spanish was to acquire gold and wealth quickly. Las Casas gives vivid accounts of what happened to the Indians. Instead, island after island (Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and 60 plus other islands) and the mainland were conquered by the Spanish resulting in fifteen million deaths over the course of forty-nine years. In addition, the instructions warned Columbus to scrutinize the Spanish who traveled with him in 1493 as well as future arrivals to the Indies so that they treated the Indians well, and that any mistreatment was to be punished. They hung Indians in groups of thirteen to commemorate Jesus Christ and his twelve Apostles. The Spanish used war as an excuse (when the Indians offered resistance or used self-defense) against able-bodied resisting men, torture, and enslavement for the remaining men, women, and children. He branded them beasts using terror, torture, and death.
Common topics in this essay:
Las Casas,
Christopher Columbus,
Spanish Spanish,
Rico Jamaica,
Indians Indian,
las casas,
Isabella Spain,
,
Jesus Christ,
women children,
catholic faith,
treatment spanish,
indian women,
native population,
forty-nine spanish,
|
Acceptance Essays
