Juan Gines de Sepulveda and Bartolome de Las Casas
When Columbus discovered the New World, he reported that the inhabitants, although intelligent, had no significant weapons. Therefore, they could be easily conquered and enslaved. The Indians were needed to be laborers for the Spaniards in their search for gold in the New World. Their suppression of the Indians was justified to European leaders on two grounds: (a) their labor was required in order to obtain gold and other wealth; (b) they were uncivilized people who would be rewarded by being given access to a more advanced religion. This began the conquests and the destruction of a civilization. It also brought about the debate of human rights and the civilized treatment of other races. Philosophical discussions occurred, and these two articles are a noted example of the ideas and beliefs that were deliberated.The contrast between these two historical documents is quite apparent. To find the similarities, one has to search a bit deeper. Bartolome de Las Casas was a missionary/priest and known as a defender of the oppressed. Juan Gines de Sepulveda was a prominent and influential Spanish philosopher of the 16th century. Both men preached their opinions about the inhabitants of the New World, however their ideas were as differ
Furthermore he believed that the crudeness of the natives made it necessary for more refined people like the Spanish to educate and dominate them. Another similarity is that both authors referred to the Indians as barbarians. He believed that the Indians lacked belief in the Christian God and it was the responsibility of the Spaniards to spread Christian faith using whatever methods they felt appropriate. Sepulveda also believed that enslavement by the Spaniards protected the weaker Indians from being subjected to human sacrifice and cannibalism, as they currently existed in a caste system and theoretically lived a life of servitude. He saw their artistic talent as an expression of their skill and sophistication. I think it is absurd to invade one's culture, force possibly unwanted changes upon them and enslave them believing that is what is best for them. Bringing religion to the natives would improve them as people and establish them as more civilized society. He felt that the Indians were gentle people that were easy to teach and willing to accept the Christian religion. He felt they were committing genocide. He branded the Indians with such terms as barbarians, cannibals, murderers, and cowards. They both deemed that the spreading of Christianity was imperative. Sepulveda believed that it was far better for the Spaniards to rule over the Indians, as they were "cultivated of human virtues and the true faith", than to be ruled under their current form of government. Their perceptions of the native inhabitants formulated their opposing views on how the Spaniards should treat them. How they interacted with these new worlds was a matter of how they would conduct themselves in the future. He condemns his Sepulveda position saying that he "has spoken wrongly and viciously against people like these, either out of malice or ignorance of Aristotle's teaching.
Common topics in this essay:
Las Casas,
Christian God,
,
Casas Sepulveda,
Vatican Spanish,
Europeans Sepulveda,
Juan Gines,
Las Casas',
Sepulveda Indians,
Indians Spaniards,
las casas,
believed indians,
casas believed,
casas believed indians,
las casas believed,
sepulveda believed,
bartolome de las,
destruction civilization,
bartolome de,
caste system,
form government,
de las casas,
de las,
las casas',
|
Acceptance Essays
