Bartolome De Las Casas

Paper Summary:

Describes his vital role in defending the indigenous peoples of the New World. His life as a missionary, historian and theologian. How his writings exposed the evil mistreatment of Indians by the Spanish. How his writings created The Black Legend. Criticism of his one-sided view of Indians and Spaniards.

From the Paper:

"This study will explore the vital role played by Bartolome de las Casas (1474-1566) in defending the rights of the indigenous peoples of the New World. While it is not accurate to say that he was the "savior of the Indians from Spanish cruelty," he certainly played a role in limiting that cruelty, risking much in doing so. Historical controversy continues to swirl around his life and works centuries after his death. While some critics argue that he was not the radical reformer he is pictured as being by his admirers, it is nevertheless clear that considering the harsh colonial era in which he lived, in which indigenous peoples were conventionally seen as less than human, de las Casas was indeed a brave supporter and defender of those people. One of the most compelling aspects of de las Casas's story is the learning process he himself went through as he awakened to ..."

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