The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Bartolome de las Casas Essay Example

What were the pivotal events that prompted Bartolome de las Casas to defend the indigenous peoples against the Spaniards? De las Casas wrote in the "Devastation of the Indies" in detail the chaos that indigenous people experienced when Christopher Columbus first arrived in 1492. In a clever manner, De La Casas asserts human rights as well as the limitations of civil and church authority. Las Casas hopes to connect with the Spaniards who lost themselves and restore them to God. De Las Casas was embracing the tradition, biblical authority, and scriptural authority of the church. The Spanish court hearing Bartolome de las Casas' description of the actions of the conquistadors aimed to denounce their political, economic, moral, and religious activities. 

Political 

The old world had established civilization, but the New World was a place to expand its richness and politics. In the Spanish court, De Las Casas argues for the upholding of both civil and religious rights. Although Las Casas' depiction of Constantine's motivation for conquest is inaccurate, his point is well-taken: the power of civil government has limits, especially when using force to advance Christianity. Consequently, De las Casas knew the Highnesses were looking for gold and other resources, but other methods could be found to obtain them. In Las Casas' view, establishing civilian power through violence is neither cautious nor sustainable. He ascribes correspondingly circumscribed authority on earth as a priest. As a result of the Native American debate, the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church implemented guidelines for slavery in the New World. 

Economic 

The economies of both worlds will undergo tremendous changes. The discovery of the New World was a groundbreaking discovery that opened up many doors for people in the Old World. The Indies, according to Bartolome De Las Casas, are noble and caring people. Having suffered everything that the Spanish did to the Indies, De Las Casas was traumatized. Bartolome went to Spain and testified against the acts that the Spaniards executed because of injustices. Bartolome accuses the Spanish conquistadors of implementing this evangelization disastrously. De Las Casas testified in the hope of helping the Natives avoid being murdered and turned into slaves. Bartolome De Las Casas wrote, "to set down an accounting of the hell that is the Indies, so that those infinite masses of souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ may not die for all eternity without any help for it, but rather know their Creator and be saved." Native Americans were harmed both physically and psychologically. Everything Columbus did was his desire for gold, and the crimes he committed were unforgettable. 

Moral 

The Spanish lost their morals because of their wealth. De las Casas portrayed the Indians as naive and sheep, while Bartolome considered the Spaniards dangerous and animal beings because of their actions. To take advantage of the Natives, Columbus and the Spanish settlers exploited the primary weaknesses of their generosity and compassion. After a while, the natives realize the Spanish are not on a 'Mission from Heaven.' The land was devastated in great measure, and the native peoples who lived there were taken captive, forced into labor and slavery. In addition to that, it demonstrates how the Spaniards were willing to dehumanize each other to accomplish something that may barely have any value in the long run. There was no leader, no law, and people were followers, but the Natives were generous. It was the hypocrisy surrounding the natives that especially inflamed Las Casas. The crimes that the Spaniards committed against the natives were unjustified. In the document, Bartolome mentioned, "They would erect long gibbets and bind thirteen of the Indians at one time, in honour and reverence, they said, of Our Redeemer and twelve Apostles, and put firewood around it and burn the Indians alive." The techniques that the Christians used to execute the Indians were unforgettable. 

Religious Grounds 

Las Casas would not reject imperialism, because he felt Spain must spread the word of Christianity around the world. By treating Native Americans as equals and human beings, Las Casas' Catholic views on indigenous peoples can be balanced with imperialism and the Catholic views of indigenous peoples. The way Christopher noted about the Indians established them as a target instead of converting them to Christianity. Converting all the land into Christianity was easier than keeping the people. Originally, they had intended to convert all the natives to Christianity. However, it was easier to conquer and kill native people in the most horrific ways and convert all of the lands into Christianity rather than keeping the Native Americans. Columbus returned to Spain with many new items, including kidnapping Indians, as a way to tell the world about his discovery. The beautiful land of the new world was dyed red with innocent blood and was marked as a tragedy for indigenous people in history. Even Christians knew what they were doing was wrong. 

In summary, in the Spanish courts, De Las Casas advocated the protection of civil and religious rights. Economies in both parts of the world were set to undergo profound changes. The Spaniards were ready to commit any crime over morals. Bartolome de Las Casas felt obligated by the church to tell the Highness in order to get justice for the Natives. Due to Bartolome's belief that everyone should be treated equally, the court helped the Native Americans.