Destruction of the Indies

Paper Summary:

This paper summarizes the book and gives an opinion of the content. It discusses why Las Casas' account of how the Spanish treated the natives is a darkly disturbing book that will remain in the reader's mind for a long time to come. It explains why this book sheds a dark light on the Spanish colonial practices.

From the Paper:

"The Introduction of "Account" chronicles Las Casas' life, and introduces just how he came to champion the natives of the Indies. Las Casas opens his history with a compelling statement, compelling the reader to continue reading. "Everything that has happened since the marvellous discovery of the Americas " from the short-lived initial attempts of the Spanish to settle there, right down to the present day " has been so extraordinary that the whole story remains quite incredible to anyone who has not experienced it at first hand" (Las Casas 3). Right away, the reader must turn the pages to find out more about this extraordinary story, and discover just why Las Casas became such an advocate for the natives. As he recounts the history of the area, the reader becomes aware of the horrors committed by the Spaniards, and begins to understand just what led this man to fight so heroically for the natives."

More papers on Destruction of the Indies:

• Comparison Essay # 75570 : "Conquests and the Conquered "
• Essay # 100469 : "The British East India Company"
• Book Review # 148422 : "Andrew Isenberg's "The Destruction of the Bison"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: