las las july 16th century spanish historian social reformer dominican resident officially appointed protector indians extensive writings famous short account destruction indies las chronicle decades colonization west_indies focus particularly atrocities committed indigenous peoples arriving european settlers americas initially participated eventually felt compelled oppose atrocities committed native americans spanish colonists reformed views gave indian slaves advocated king charles holy roman emperor behalf rights natives early writings advocated use african slaves instead natives west indian colonies consequently criticisms leveled partly responsible beginning slave trade later life retracted early views came forms slavery equally wrong attempted launch new kind peaceful coast venezuela venture failed causing enter leaving public scene decade traveled central_america undertaking peaceful maya guatemala participated debates mexican best bring natives christian faith traveling spain recruit missionaries continued lobbying abolition gaining important victory passing new laws appointed served short time forced return spain resistance new laws conflicts spanish settlers pro indian policies activist religious remainder life spent spanish court held great influence indies related issues participated debate argued indians human required spanish masters order maintained fully human las spent years life actively fighting slavery violent colonial abuse indigenous peoples especially trying convince spanish court adopt humane policy colonization failed save indigenous peoples efforts resulted improvements legal status natives increased colonial focus ethics seen advocates universal human rights life times background arrival new world las born november centuries believed 1970s scholars conducting archival work demonstrated error general records contemporary lawsuit demonstrated born decade later supposed subsequent biographers authors generally accepted reflected revision father las merchant descended families migrated france found town family spelled according biographer family heritage refer ancient christians migrated france following testimony biographer tradition studied mentioned writings young man rome observed festival father immigrated island hispaniola expedition slave owner receiving piece land province participated slave raids military expeditions native population hispaniola ordained priest ordained americas september group dominican arrived santo domingo led appalled saw committed indians decided deny slave owners right confession denied confession reason december dominican preacher preached fiery sermon implicated colonists genocide native peoples said preached tell right justice hold indians cruel horrible authority waged wars people dealt quietly peacefully lands wars destroyed infinite number heard oppressed exhausted giving eat excessive labor die kill order extract acquire gold day argued favour justice colonists led dispatched complaint king recalled hispaniola conquest cuba change heart chaplain participated conquest cuba participated campaigns massacre witnessed atrocities committed native peoples later wrote saw cruelty scale living seen friend awarded joint rich gold slaves located close years divided time duties ordained priest studying passage book sermon meaning finally convinced actions spanish new world illegal constituted great injustice mind slaves started preach colonists preaching met resistance realized spain fight abuse native people aided accompanied left spain september arriving november king ferdinand arrived spain plan convincing king end system easier thought people positions power influx wealth indies winter king ferdinand lay ill able letter introduction majesty archbishop diego christmas eve met monarch discussed situation indies king agreed hear detail later date waiting produced report presented juan secretary complete charge royal policies indies impressed account find different avenue change faith coming audience king came died january regency passed adrian guardians age prince charles las resolved resided flanders way passed madrid delivered written account situation indies proposed memorial las early work advocated black slaves africa relieve suffering indians stance later retracted advocate colonies shows concern end slavery institution end physical abuse suffering indians keeping legal moral doctrine time believed slavery justified result war time assumed justified worried visions drawn situation indies decided send group government islands protector indians selected commissioners authority indies considerable selecting writing instructions new government largely based memorial granted official title protector indians given yearly salary new office expected serve advisor new governors regards indian issues speak case indians court send reports spain commissioners traveled santo domingo separate ships arrived weeks later time time form pragmatic view situation advocated position islands fiercely attempts use native labour consequently commissioners unable radical steps improving situation natives especially living spain islands carried inquiry indian question asserted indians incapable living freely supervision disappointed infuriated accused kidnapping indians relationship commissioners broke hated figure islands seek refuge dominican monastery continued refuse confession slave owners stated priests took confession committing mortal sin forced travel spain regent failure reforms left begin indians towns similar wanted king charles peasant colonization scheme arrived spain protector regent cardinal ill tired resolved meet instead young king died november young king arrived november managed secure support king flemish including powerful chancellor las influence turned favor court secretary spoke highly king appointed write new plan reforming governmental system indies suggested plan abolished indians self governing tribute paying king suggested loss indian labor colonists replaced allowing african slaves important plan introduce new kind sustainable colonization advocated supporting migration spanish peasants indies introduce small scale farming agriculture kind colonization didn rely resource indian labor worked recruit large number peasants want travel islands given lands farm cash advances tools resources needed establish recruitment drive difficult process power relation shifted court chancellor las main supporter unexpectedly died end smaller number peasant families sent originally planned supplied insufficient provisions support secured arrival survived journey ill received work hard survive hostile colonies devastated tragic result peasant migration scheme felt thwarted enemies decided instead undertake personal venture rely support fought win land grant american mainland earliest stage colonization venture following suggestion friend mentor petitioned land grant allowed establish settlement northern venezuela founded small monastery dominican monks harassed operating slave raids nearby island order proposal king incorporate prospect profits royal treasury suggested northern coast venezuela establishing royal forts protect indians starting system trade gold indian slaves new world brought live towns tribute paying subjects king order secure grant long fight court supporters las supporters new chancellor las enemies king accusing planning escape money genoa rome las concession finally granted smaller grant initially proposed denied possibilities gold difficult find investors venture committed producing annual revenue increasing years christian towns settlers privileges granted initial shareholders scheme king promised grants area said finding men willing invest years unpaid work proved impossible end ended leaving november small group peasants paying venture money borrowed brother law arriving puerto_rico january received terrible news dominican convent sacked indians islands launched expedition led heart territory wanted peacefully indians provoked attack settlement monks repeated slave raids operating ships began returning slaves land granted went hispaniola complain months negotiations set sail peasants brought deserted arrived colony ravaged worked adverse conditions following months constantly harassed spanish pearl island traded slaves alcohol natives early las left settlement complain authorities gone native attacked settlement burned ground killed men returned hispaniola january heard news massacre rumours included dead matters worse detractors event evidence need indians military means tragic outcome great mainland adventure turn life new direction dominican devastated reacted entering dominican monastery santo domingo finally taking holy vows dominican continued theological studies particularly attracted philosophy little information activities following years oversaw construction monastery north coast hispaniola subsequently serving prior convent began working history indies order report experiences witnessed hand conquest colonization wrote letter count protesting indians advocating return original reform plan complaint sent hispaniola accusing mortal sins pulpit contributed establishment peace treaty spanish rebel band chief las attempt travel peru observe stages conquest region party far panama turn nicaragua adverse weather lingering dominican convent got conflict governor nicaragua opposed expeditions governor las followed number guatemala began prepare undertake mission stayed convent founded years earlier studied language traveling interior region called land war las went mexico participate series discussions debates bishops dominican orders orders different approaches conversion indians method mass conversion thousands indians day method championed prominent known enemies arguing conversions adequate understanding invalid las wrote treatise called way conversion based missionary principles guatemala later fierce critic accusing talk action came converting indians direct result debates spurred treatise pope bull stated indians rational beings brought peacefully faith returned guatemala wanting employ new method conversion based principles preach gospel men treat equals assert conversion voluntary based knowledge understanding faith important method tested secular colonists chose territory heart guatemala previous colonies natives considered fierce war like fact land possible conquer military means governor guatemala agreed sign contract promising venture successful establish new area group established dominican presence efforts missionaries called land war came called true peace las strategy teach christian songs merchant indian christians ventured area way successful converting native chiefs building churches territory named group christian indians location town las recalled mission wanted mexico spain order seek assist mission left guatemala mexico stayed year setting spain new laws spain started securing official support mission managed royal decree forbidding secular intrusion following years informed led mass baptism practiced resulting condemning practice apart clerical business traveled spain purpose continue struggle colonists indians fact legally abolished general ordinance slavery reversed crown reason pressing matter las indians holy roman emperor longer boy wrote letter asking permission stay spain little longer order argue emperor conversion colonization best achieved peaceful means hearings started presented narrative atrocities natives indies later published las council consisting cardinal count members argued solution problem remove indians care secular system putting instead directly crown royal tribute paying subjects november emperor signed new laws removing certain officials illegal use indians carriers transport available prohibited taking indians slaves gradual abolition system crown death holders surviving indians hispaniola cuba puerto_rico jamaica tribute requirements personal service reforms unpopular new world riots broke threats life new spain decided implement laws domain instead sent party spain argue laws behalf satisfied laws drastic system going function years gradual abolition plan drafted suggestion amendment arguing laws slavery formulated way violent conquest carried encouraged beginning phase peaceful colonization peasants instead soldiers returned spain appointed newly established diocese took possession return new world consecrated march archbishop strongly disliked ceremony nephew titular bishop bishop involved frequent conflicts secular diocese landowners pastoral letter issued march refused slave owners death bed slaves set free property returned furthermore threatened indians jurisdiction came conflict jurisdiction diocese previously belonged dismay openly defied new laws bishop principal new laws finally repealed october riots broke shots fired angry colonists year unpopular area leave having summoned meeting bishops held mexico_city january left diocese return meeting probably lengthy reflection realizing new laws lost mexico presented view problems confession property mexico bishop agreed completely new moderate stance minor reservations guatemala object resulted new resolution presented act writing manual administration confession diocese refusing appointed vicar diocese set europe december arriving lisbon april spain november debate returned spain leaving conflicts unresolved issues arriving spain met barrage accusations based rules opponents found essence denial legitimacy spanish rule colonies form treason crown example received fifth large number slaves taken recent war held clean guilt strict rules crown decreed copies burnt adversary happily obliged sending report spain defended writing title arguing legality claim titles realms new world peaceful warfare illegal papal mandate peacefully bringing christianity peoples titles acquired defense offense argue doctor theology law book alter causes war indians argued native people naturally inferior destined perpetual christian europeans book deemed publication containing doctrine pro faction seized intellectual champion order settle issues formal debate organized famous debate took place presenting arguments council read conclusions alter council listened reading form argued indians sins low level civilization required masters maintain social order required christianity turn required spanish defend weak indians abuses stronger ones countered scriptures fact support war certain tribes indians lacked social order peaceful mission true way converting natives finally weak indians suffering hands stronger ones indians suffering hands judge summarised arguments addressed arguments countered judges arguments presented months coming verdict verdict inconclusive claimed won published short account destruction indies book written decade earlier sent attention prince spain contained accounts abuses committed native americans early stages colonization old adversary wrote letter described ignorant arrogant described denied baptism aging indian walked leagues receive grounds believe man received sufficient instruction letter old conflict requirements baptism orders intended bring succeed later years death having resigned spent rest life working closely imperial court matters relating indies rented cell lived assistant friend continued working kind natives indies directed petitions speak emperor behalf indigenous nobility related cases spain example noble influence court great considered final word choosing members matter invested effort political situation peru power struggles open civil war led rebelled new laws defeated executed emperor sent friend rule law turn defeated order political situation started pushing repeal new laws turning perpetual worst possible outcome point view offered buy rights crown inclined accept wars left deep economic troubles worked hard convince king bad economic decision return brink open rebellion result crown losing colony entirely emperor probably doubts caused arguments took final decision issue finished signed published years fact published years finally repeatedly defend accusations treason possibly denounced came case appeared witness case friend archbishop falsely accused wrote signing immense library college died july madrid works memorial las text written starts describing purpose present necessary order evil harm exists indies cease god lord prince draw greater benefits hitherto republic better preserved proposed remedy complete use indian labor indies time better regulations set place meant simply halt indian population surviving indians time feared rate exploitation proceeding late hinder action taken rapidly second change labor policy instead owning labor specific indians right man hours carried specific persons required establishment self governing indian communities land colonists organize provide labor patron rights certain portion total labor indians resting taking care sick proposed having specific aim improving situation indians limiting powers colonists able exercise second memorial described suggestions social political organization indian communities relative colonial ones advocated city subsequent gathering indians communities indians situated satellites spanish towns mining areas argued indians better governed better taught christian faith easier protect abuse scattered settlements town royal hospital built wings shape cross sick indians cared time described detail social arrangements distribution work provisions divided table manners introduced expenses argued expensive difficult comes indians work theirs drew budget expenses cover wages administrators latin doctors advocates miners pig fishermen etc showed arrangement easily maintained gold extracted profit short account destruction indies short account destruction indies spanish las account written published indigenous peoples americas colonial times sent prince philip spain stated purposes writing account fear spain coming divine punishment concern souls native peoples account attempts spanish writer colonial era depict unfair treatment indigenous people endured early stages spanish conquest particularly island hispaniola las point view described heavily spanish methods colonization described inflicted great losses indigenous occupants islands account largely responsible adoption new laws abolished native slavery time european colonial history led debate book important element creation propagation called tradition describing spanish empire exceptionally morally corrupt violent republished times groups critical spanish realm political religious reasons edition translation published dutch religious persecution dutch spanish crown followed editions french english german countries religious wars raging edition published spain death appeared barcelona book banned images described later depicted copper plate helped expand black legend spain short account destruction indies london isbn history indies spanish las written chapter changed volume recognizing material historical material contained primarily accounts indigenous cultures indies contains descriptions indigenous cultures learned travels readings history written defense cultural level indians arguing indigenous peoples americas roman greek egyptian european essence comparative comparing practices customs european american cultures evaluating according good bad seen christian viewpoint wrote declared demonstrated openly concluded chapter end book people indies human far possible natural human way light faith places towns cities abundant provided lack live politically socially attain enjoy civil happiness nations world renowned considered surpassed inferior greeks romans surpassed good better customs surpassed english french people spain superior countless having good customs lacking evil ones work combined observations writers compared customs cultures different peoples characterized early beginning discipline history indies history indies volume work begun found final form working originally planned volume work volume describes decade history indies arrival eye witness account history indies finally regretted advocacy african slavery included sincere apology writing soon judged guilty ignorance came realize black slavery indian slavery sure ignorance good faith secure eyes god vol legacy highly controversial years following death ideas taboo spanish realm seen nearly accounts written enemies widely read published british empire rose power hostilities british spanish began british accounts spanish cruelty political tool making foundation spanish nationalists called black legend tendency historians spain imperial past looking mildly british history writing reached climax spanish right wing nationalist historians late 19th early 20th centuries constructing pro spanish white legend arguing spanish empire denying adverse consequences spanish spanish pro imperial historians depicted describing given traitor nation accused having instrumental suppressing publication alter called spite historians find unlikely rejected unlikely influenced critiques accused atrocities described indies scholars holding initial population figures given high making population decline look worse actually european disease prime cause population decline violence exploitation demographic studies colonial mexico mid-20th century suggested decline years conquest drastic ranging course different causes ultimately arrival europeans overwhelming main cause disease introduced europeans noted numbers norm writing 16th century accounts contemporary detractors supporters guilty similar suggested atrocities described exaggerated invented generally considered likely far person deeply worried abuse indians dominican reported extensive violence decade conquest indies conquest americas reports abuse natives priests ordinary citizens indigenous people reported enemies reported atrocities committed indians modern historians tend disregard numerical figures given maintain general picture presented intensely violent abusive conquest represent reality persistent point criticism repeated suggestions replacing indian african slave labor regretted position end life included apology history indies later criticism held responsible institution atlantic slave trade abolitionist called stimulated holding responsible thousands historians writing denied suggestions affected development slave trade likewise consider substantial impact slave trade place began writing view contradicted argued memorial direct cause granting permission transport african slaves jamaica histories late 20th century argued favor nuanced image suggesting saint fanatic person exceptional sense justice led arrogance historians argue politician humanitarian liberation policies combined schemes colonial extraction resources natives efficient argues failed realize seeking replace indigenous spirituality christianity undertaking religious physical critique rejected historians cultural legacy capital mexican state renamed honor bishop work particular inspiration work oxford cited predecessor liberation theology movement commemorated church_of_england calendar saints july july catholic_church introduced cause church began process come seen early advocate concept universal human rights develop view unity stating people world humans natural right liberty combination rights philosophy political theology capacity human rights institute located las established featured cent coins small town tennessee united_states named central character historical novel city published
Bartolomé de las Casas